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There was a delightful moment in the press conference after Andy Murray had battled into another Wimbledon semi-final when a reporter, sounding somewhat weary, asked:
“Andy, the country is a bit miserable right now. We need a new Prime Minister, new Top Gear presenter, new England football manager and Wales are losing. How does it feel to be the nation's last hope?”
To which Murray, bathed in a rare smile, responded: “It's not that bad, is it?”
You’re right, Andy. It really isn’t. It’s gentlemen’s singles semi-finals day here at Wimbledon, the weather is forecast to be kind (we hope) and for the sixth year in the last seven, we have Mr Murray, minted and magnificent, in the last four.
Just think. We went 74 years without a home-based gentlemen’s singles finalist and now Murray, single-handedly, will achieve the feat three times in five years should he beat Tomas Berdych on Centre Court on Friday. Our tennis ambassador really is spoiling us.
And so, as always is Roger Federer. Centre Court, so often the scene of a truly great match, managed two in one day on Wednesday thanks to Murray and Federer.
“Today was epic,” noted a rather emotional-sounding Federer and it still felt like he was underselling his quarter-final win, having soaked up Marin Cilic’s blistering assault, saved three match points and completed a record-equalling 10th comeback from two sets down.
It’s so easy to forget this about Federer. He may appear to carry a magic wand and make it seem as if everything comes so simple and perspiration-free to him, even at 34. Yet here was evidence again how this seemingly effortless indifference really does mask true grit.
NoSuchKeyHe will have to call on it once more on Friday to rack up yet another all-time record - an 85th Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles victory, to push him ahead of Jimmy Connors - because Milos Raonic will bring Cilic-like weaponry to the party.
Two years ago, Federer dismantled the Canadian in the semi-final like some nerveless bomb disposal operative but that was Raonic the innocent. He’s a new man now. John McEnroe wondered aloud tongue-in-cheek after Raonic’s quarter-final win over Sam Querrey that, hey, didn’t this guy have a great new coaching advisor or something. Which, of course, would be Supermac himself.
Actually, Raonic has two ‘super coaches’ in his corner - another former world No.1 Carlos Moya is the other - and he may need them both to deal with Superman. Federer has overcome knee surgery, back trouble and lack of match practice this year. So, why worry about tackling a guy who’s crashed down a tournament-best 119 aces, including one at 143mph, the fastest all fortnight?
After a serene passage, Murray ran into a storm and a Tigger-like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took five sets to subdue but, in truth, Wimbledon without at least one scare for our great Briton just wouldn’t be Wimbledon.
Now he’s up against Berdych, a man transformed from the one who was humiliated 6-0, 6-0 by David Goffin in Rome, prompting some coaching changes.The 30-year-old knows how to cause Murray problems as a narrow 8-6 career head-to-head lead for the Briton suggests, but the 2013 champion has won the last four very handily.
Yet they’ve never met on grass and, on his day, Berdych can beat anyone on these lawns. Just ask Federer and Novak Djokovic, both overpowered en route to Berdych’s only Grand Slam final appearance here in 2010. It took Rafael Nadal to beat him in the final.
Oh yes, and there’s been a bit of spice between these two as well, as anyone who watched last year’s Australian Open semi-final, won by Murray, will recall.
So two grand contests await. Who knows, perhaps even a pair to rival Wednesday’s classics? Because you see, our last hope was right. Things really aren’t all that bad….
