FIRST SET

*Murray-Tsonga 3-0.  Murray started serving well, to 40-0.  Tsonga came back to 40-15.  Tsonga was up on his serve, played sloppy points, and eventually got broken.  Murray held a close match.  Expect longer rallies and Tsonga coming to net.

Murray-Tsonga* 3-1. Nice hold for Tsonga.

*Murray-Tsonga 4-1. This looks to be more entertaining in terms of shotmaking than the other semi which felt very serious.  Murray down 15-40, but plays two good rallies, then serves two big points to get out of the hole.  One reason players like Murray is so good is ability to save break points.

Murray-Tsonga* 4-2. Tsonga held easily.

*Murray-Tsonga 5-2. More big serving followed by a great pass as Tsonga comes to net.  Clearly, Tsonga wants to get to net a lot, but Murray winning free points off that serve.

*Murray-Tsonga 6-3. Tsonga holds, then Murray holds to win first set!  Pedestrian games here.  Second set should tell more.  Murray looks confident.  Tsonga getting more relaxed.

Murray wins first set!

SECOND SET

*Tsonga-Murray 2-1. On serve.  Tsonga’s first and second serve are hugely different.  He wins most first serve points and loses most second serve points.  However, he’s getting enough first serves in to do the trick.  Tsonga also has great touch at the net.

*Tsonga-Murray 2-3. Murray continues to serve well and holds comfortably.  Tsonga gets down 0-30 with a double fault.  He’s down 15-40 after a good pass.  Tsonga thumps two good first serves, but Murray makes some good returns and engineers the break when Tsonga hits a forehand wide.

*Tsonga-Murray 3-4. Another efficient hold by Murray.  Tsonga had a little trouble, but continues to come to net and win points, and thus hold.

*Tsonga-Murray 4-5. Murray hardly missing serves and just acing Tsonga.  Easy hold.  Murray gets chances in Tsonga’s games, but Tsonga doing well at net and manages hold despite pressure from Murray.

*Tsonga-Murray 4-6. Murray hits a few good serves, then Tsonga plays a few poor points to give Murray the second set.  Tsonga has asked to see a trainer.

Murray wins second set!

Tsonga does well when he gets to net, but Murray has been on fire while serving, so Tsonga is not exerting much pressure on the return game.  Meanwhile, Murray gets chances in the Tsonga serve games, although Tsonga has been able to keep his nose in front and avoid too many break points.

Murray is a lot more relaxed than he has been in prior years.  He’s serving well perhaps better than Federer.  However, Federer was serving to Djokovic and Murray is serving against Tsonga.

THIRD SET

*Tsonga-Murray 3-0.  Murray cools off, gets down 0-40, and Tsonga breaks.  Tsonga able to hold his serve due to some deft serve and volleying.  Match getting interesting after Murray had been dominating.

*Tsonga-Murray 4-1.  Murray had another patchy serving game.  His first serve percentage in this set is quite low and he’s pushing second serve.  At 30-40, Tsonga tried a crosscourt chip and charge that clipped the net and fell on his side.  Murray’s serve held tough enough for the hold.  Murray had chances in the Tsonga game, but Tsonga held.

*Tsonga-Murray 5-2. Murray’s serve is slowly getting back and he’s able to hold.  He gets a few chances in Tsonga’s serve, but not enough to get ahead.  Tsonga hits a half volley winner as he comes to net and is one game from the set.

*Tsonga-Murray 6-3. Murray again holds comfortably.  Early in Tsonga’s serve, he hits a drop volley and Murray aims to the body and hits Tsonga’s man parts.  Tsonga is a bit wobbled, but comes back to take the set.

Tsonga wins third set!

FOURTH SET

*Murray-Tsonga 2-1. A few Tsonga errors lets Murray win first game.  Tsonga getting better hitting on his own serve and holds.  Murray makes a great pass on a Tsonga crosscourt approach to hold.

*Murray-Tsonga 3-2. On Tsonga’s serve, Tsonga fires a big forehand, that Murray barely gets back.  Tsonga hits a neutral shot and Murray hits a big forehand to get to break point.  Tsonga comes to net, but pushed the volley deep.  Murray breaks!  Tsonga using his amazing net skills to hit a one-handed backhand pass to save the game, then hits drop volley to get to  break point.  Attacks a second serve and Murray nets the shot to give the break back.

*Murray-Tsonga 4-3. Two solid holds by both players.  On serve.

*Murray-Tsonga 4-4. Murray gets to 15-40, but Tsonga holds tough and evens it up.  Murray slipped on one shot at the baseline, then missed a diving volley.  A few huge serves to wrap up the game.

*Murray-Tsonga 5-4. Murray now falls back 15-40.  A few aggressive returns hit deep allows Murray to win the game and hold serve.  Murray had a good first serve, but called out with Tsonga returning deep.  It was challenged and called in Murray’s favor, but he hit a fault.  Tsonga returned that second serve long.

*Murray-Tsonga 6-5. Tsonga holds.  Murray down 15-30, but Tsonga hits one shot into the net and one return long.  Tsonga serves to push match into tiebreak.

*Murray-Tsonga 7-5. Two Tsonga second serves and two points for Murray with two shots to the errant Tsonga backhand.  Tsonga gets a good first serve in and wins the point.  Tsonga gets another first serve in, comes to net, but Murray hits one pass, then a second, and Tsonga hits the net.  Tsonga hits a wide serve and Murray tags it back crosscourt.  He raises his arms, but they say it was called out.  Murray challenges.  It’s in!  Murray reaches his first Wimbledon final!

Final score: 63 64 36 75

It’s probably fitting that Murray had to work this hard to get through this match after being on fire for the first two sets.  Murray kept hanging in there despite his serve slipping.  Perhaps it’s only fitting that Murray plays Federer, the man who denied him two Slams in the finals.

And Murray has passed 6 tough tests.  Is he ready to pass his 7th?