Andy at full tilt for clash of the titans
Fans could give Scot vital edge
EVEN the Swedes in tennis, usually as prone to overexcitement as an IKEA wardrobe, are getting excited about this one.
Andy Murray’s coach Jonas Bj or k man hailed t o day’ s Wimbledon semi-final as a match between ‘these giants of the game’ while his opposite number in Roger Federer’s corner, Stefan Edberg, was looking rather more intense than is normal.
Ex-world No 1 Mats Wilander declared: ‘ This i s the most excited I have been for a match between the two of them ever in terms of their rivalry.
‘Does Roger believe he can win a Grand Slam at this moment?
‘I think it will go the distance. Both of them will figure out a way to prolong the match to the very end.’
Everything is set up beautifully for the Centre Court this teatime. Murray has looked in the form of his life while Federer has looked in the form of a previous life, that golden span between 2003-9 when he won six out of seven Wimbledons.
Maybe now, after 23 meetings, we will get the defining match between this pair. Every other combination of the fabled ‘Big Four’, that also includes Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, have had signature clashes that have exemplified their rivalries.
Think Federer-Nadal here in 2008 final, for example.
But it is a curiosity that Federer and Murray have never had a truly great contest. There have been memorable ones, obviously, like the 2012 final or the Olympic gold medal match, but never an occasion that has soared above all others.
It often seems that one of them plays below their best. At London 2012 Murray crushed Federer, while in the Wimbledon final that year the Swiss pulled ahead once the roof closed.
The 28- year- old Scot has conceded that the last time they played, at the Barclays ATP World Finals, the 6-0, 6-1 scoreline was ‘embarrassing’.
Perhaps it is connected to their contrast of styles, to the point where the great Swiss used to get infuriated by what he saw as the Scot’s overly defensive tactics.
There is a cordial truce between them now but they have had a habit of getting under each other’s skin over the years.
This time the stakes are very different to when they met in the final three years ago, and the prize of the world No 2 position is the least of it. For Murray, it
would be a huge step towards what could be a third Grand Slam title, while for Federer it is a question of trying to get close to what could be his last.
His supreme comfort on grass makes this major the most attainable these days, and although he has looked incredibly sprightly of late he will be nearly 35 on his next visit here.
Lying in wait in the final will most likely be Novak Djokovic, who is strongly favoured to beat the interloper, Richard Gasquet, before the expected main event kicks off later in the afternoon.
So an extremely difficult three days lie ahead for the winner, and if it is to be Murray he will need the vocal support of the crowd behind him, which is far from certain when the opponent is the global icon Federer.
This has been most notable in Murray’s four defeats to the Swiss at the O2 Arena, where it is a more international crowd than at Wimbledon, a place the Scot normally seems more at ease. Those from the overnight queue who sit down by the court will be expected to play their part in a big way.
‘I think they should be fair but hopefully with a little bit of an edge,’ said Bjorkman yesterday.
‘So a bit of edge supporting Andy, that would be great. He is playing at home and even if he plays Roger, who will have some support because of the way he is, they would hopefully have the most support for Andy.’
Bjorkman, who faced Federer in the semis nine years ago, was holding a strategy meeting yesterday afternoon with the brains trust of Murray and Amelie Mauresmo. He reported a relaxed mood in the camp and no shoulder issues.
It is fairly obvious that Federer will come forward and attack the net when he can while Murray must choose how assertive he wants to be.
There is no doubt that the Scot has had the tougher tests this tournament, particularly his ni ghtmarish f ourth r ound against Ivo Karlovic.
A key battleground will be how Murray can pass and lob his surging opponent, the latter manoeuvre having been an eye-catching part of his progress thus far.
One concern for those hoping for a Murray triumph on Sunday is that, since returning from back surgery at the beginning of last year, he has not beaten either Federer or Djokovic.
His one win in 15 matches against his three most celebrated rivals came over Nadal — how he would love to double that today.