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Wimbledon 2016: Andy Murray faces Tomas Berdych in semi-finals

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016
Wimbledon on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with more on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details

Britain’s Andy Murray will attempt to reach his third Wimbledon final when he plays Tomas Berdych on Friday.

Murray, 29, is bidding for a second Wimbledon and third Grand Slam title, while his Czech rival was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2010.

In the other semi-final, seven-time champion Roger Federer will take on Canada’s sixth seed Milos Raonic.

Federer is aiming to win his 18th Grand Slam title and first since beating Murray in the Wimbledon final in 2012.

Murray soothed by Lendl

Since reuniting with coach Ivan Lendl before the Aegon Championships, second seed Murray has won 10 straight matches, including the final at Queen’s.

Some wise judges believe the Scot is playing the best tennis of his career, even better than when he won the Wimbledon title in 2013.

“I think it’s beneficial having him [Ivan] there, because I trust him and have a lot of confidence in him,” said Murray, after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a five-set quarter-final thriller.

“He can help when I’m on the court a little bit, just with his presence. It might be a small amount but every little bit helps.

“But the pre-match stuff, the work that you do in preparation for the matches, is where you get the big benefit.”

Berdych rebuffed

If Murray sees off Berdych he will reach his 11th Grand Slam final, beating the British record held by Fred Perry since 1936.

Murray leads 10th seed Berdych 8-6 in head-to-heads, including their last four matches. Berdych, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2010 final, has never won a major title.

After beating Lucas Pouille in his quarter-final, Berdych revealed that he asked fellow Czech Lendl to coach him in May, but was rejected.

“He basically said that he didn’t have the time and he didn’t want to be involved in tennis,” Berdych said of the eight-time Grand Slam winner, who split from Murray in 2014.

“Then he came back to Andy. So that’s how it is.”

Federer getting better?

Federer, who recovered from two sets down and saved three match points against Marin Cilic in his quarter-final, is bidding to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon titles.

The Swiss great, who was runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year, is also bidding to reach his 11th Wimbledon and 28th Grand Slam final.

At 34, Federer is bidding to become the oldest man to reach a Wimbledon final since Ken Rosewall, who was 39 when he finished runner-up in 1974.

And Federer was relaxed about the physical effects of his epic victory over Cilic, emphasising the belief and confidence he took from surviving such a test.

“It’s really encouraging for me to see that I am improving. As the match went on, I was able to sustain a really high level of play,” said Federer.

“My legs were there, my back was there. Plus mentally, this is going to give me a hell of a boost. I am ecstatic that I was able to come through somehow.”

Some McEnroe swagger?

If the 25-year-old Raonic beats Federer, he will be the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam final.

Raonic, who has sent down 114 aces in this year’s tournament and is coached by three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, was beaten by Federer in straight sets in the 2014 semis.

Raonic, who was runner-up to Murray at Queen’s last month, has only won two out of nine matches against Federer but prevailed in their most recent meeting in Brisbane in January.

And Raonic believes more aggression, both in his play and personality on court, might put Federer off his timing.

“The first things John and I focused on was not passing up any opportunities to come forward, to always keep the pressure on my opponents, keep them guessing,” said Raonic.

“Then when we played the tournament at Queen’s, it shifted to putting those things in effect and also to attitude on the court.

“Roger can come up with great things. I need to take his rhythm and timing from him. That’s what I’m going to be striving to do.”

What the experts say

Pat Cash, 1987 Wimbledon champion on Murray-Berdych: “This will be closer than most people think, with many saying Andy is through to the final already.

“I think Andy will win but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it going to five sets.

“Berdych is hitting his forehand big, he is moving well around the net, he is serving well and he has a lot of experience on the grass.

“The grass gives him a little more power and he is one of the hardest hitting players on the circuit. He can spray them but at the moment he isn’t so that’s why I think he will get a set or two.”

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Players Pick Favourite Wimbledon Traditions

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Players Pick Favourite Wimbledon Traditions

Jul072016

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Marion Bartoli: Former Wimbledon champion 'fears for life' over unknown virus

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli says she “fears for her life” after contracting an unknown virus that has caused her dramatic weight loss.

France’s Bartoli was barred from playing in an invitational event at Wimbledon this week after doctors expressed fears over her health.

Bartoli, who insists she is not anorexic, says the virus is so rare medical experts have no name for it.

“This is not life. I am just surviving,” said the 31-year-old.

Bartoli says she can only eat organic salad leaves and cucumbers without skins, and has to wash with mineral water rather than tap water.

“I fear for my life. I worry that one day my heart will stop,” the 2013 Wimbledon champion told ITV’s This Morning.

“My life is a living nightmare. I don’t wish this on anyone but it is gradually getting worse.”

Bartoli added that she needs gloves when she uses her mobile phone as the virus has caused severe electro-sensitivity.

The former world number seven believes she picked up the virus when flying between Australia, New York and India in January and February this year.

She has since lost 20kg and says she will start course of treatment at a clinic on Monday.

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Bjorn Borg Milestone Moment At Wimbledon

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Bjorn Borg Milestone Moment At Wimbledon

Jul072016

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Paralympics 2016: Jordanne Whiley sings & talks Rio tennis in Car Share

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Jordanne Whiley, who won wheelchair tennis bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics, is going for gold at Rio 2016.

BBC disability news correspondent Nikki Fox caught up with the 24-year-old en route to training as part of our Paralympic Car Share series.

WATCH MORE: Hannah Cockroft sings and talks Rio in Nikki Fox’s Car Share on way to training

READ MORE: Find out how to get into all types of athletics with our special guide.

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Murray Shares How He Rallies Wimbledon Crowds

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Murray Shares How He Rallies Wimbledon Crowds

Jul062016

Murray takes it upon himself to rally the fans

Dozens of points are played in a professional tennis match but oftentimes, only a few points during the match’s biggest moments decide who wins and who loses, and who moves on at a Grand Slam championship and who books a flight home early.

Andy Murray, who advanced to his seventh Wimbledon semi-final on Wednesday, knows this well. That’s why Murray, No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, will go out of his way to encourage the thousands of fans who attend his matches. Every little bit they can help matters, he said.

“I think it can help, yeah,” Murray said. “That’s why it’s important to try to use the crowd, if you can, to your advantage, because they do make a difference. In long matches, tough matches, even if it’s half a per cent difference, it’s good.”

Murray needed every benefit he could on Wednesday to prevail against the confident Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Scot won 7-6(10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 and the Centre Court crowd loved most of it. The second seed urged the fans throughout the three-hour and 54-minute match, tossing his arms in the air and shouting at himself to rally everyone behind him.

“The crowd was unbelievable today,” Murray said.

It was a little work to get the crowd going today, though. For three hours and 17 minutes, they had been entertained by another five-set quarter-final contest. Roger Federer came back from 0-2 sets down to beat Croat Marin Cilic 6-7(4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-3. It was the 10th time Federer had overcome the deficit, tying an Open Era record.

“It’s totally understandable that’s going to be the case after a match like that. That was a great match,” Murray said.

Murray persisted in encouraging the crowd, though, and the pro-British crowd roared for him as well.

“When you get out there, obviously it’s up to you to create an atmosphere a little bit, too,” he said. “I try to get the crowd into it as much as I can when I’m playing a home tournament.”

Both Murray and Federer won on Centre Court today, but the fans didn’t do too bad, either. “They got two pretty good matches, as well, I think,” Murray said.

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Federer Unfazed By Match Points, Celebrities

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016

Federer Unfazed By Match Points, Celebrities

Jul062016

The third seed produced a mammoth comeback on Wednesday at Wimbledon

Roger Federer has produced plenty of magic on court throughout his storied career, but his improbable quarter-final comeback against ninth seed Marin Cilic on Wednesday at Wimbledon astonished even his most loyal supporters.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion saved three match points and rallied from two sets down to defeat Cilic on Centre Court. Federer saved a match point down 4-5 and 5-6 in the fourth set, then saved another in the fourth-set tie-break to force a deciding set. With Cilic’s coach, 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, unable to contain his emotions as Federer surged ahead to victory, the captivated crowd gave the third seed a standing ovation after match point as he lived to fight another day.

“It’s great winning matches like these, coming back from two sets to love. It’s rare. When it happens, you really enjoy them,” said Federer. “I definitely felt like I got lucky to some extent. When you’re saving match points… it’s a moment when it’s not in your control anymore. But I fought, I tried, I believed. At the end, I got it done. It was an emotional win, always [is] when you come back from two sets to love. But because of the season that I’ve had, it’s wonderful.

With the win, Federer tied records held by Jimmy Connors for most semi-final appearances at Wimbledon (11) and most match wins at the grass-court major (84). He also set an all-time new record for most Grand Slam match wins at 307, passing the record previously held by Martina Navratilova.

Although reaching the final four at Wimbledon has become customary for Federer, it was hardly a guarantee when he arrived in London. The third seed suffered semi-final losses on grass this year to Dominic Thiem in Stuttgart and Alexander Zverev in Halle. Having already been forced to miss Roland Garros this year based on a lack of training due to injury, Federer’s run this fortnight came as a surprise even to him.

“I was very worried coming here,” he admitted. “I think it was huge for me to play the seven matches I did in Halle and Stuttgart. They served me very well. They gave me so much information to see what I could do, what I couldn’t do. Then knowing that I had a week in between, if I get through the first week here at Wimbledon, who knows. I did surprise myself in quite a big way actually.”

His record-breaking win over Cilic was a star-studded affair, with celebrities including Anna Wintour and David Beckham looking on with the rest of an enthralled Centre Court crowd. But for Federer, it’s the A-listers of the tennis world and not A-list celebrities that still make his stomach drop.

“Back in the day, I was nervous playing in front of my family, then in front of famous people, then in front of famous sports people, famous tennis players. Today what makes me nervous is the legends of our sport,” he said. “That’s the only thing that still gets me nervous. When I see them watching, I feel like, ‘I better play well.’ You don’t want to disappoint legends of our sport.”

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Venus win would be Hollywood ending – Navratilova

  • Posted: Jul 07, 2016
Wimbledon on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with more on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details

Venus Williams winning a sixth Wimbledon title following illness and a loss of form would be a Hollywood ending, says Martina Navratilova.

Williams, 36, is the oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Navratilova lost in the 1994 Wimbledon final aged 37.

The American meets Angelique Kerber in her first SW19 semi-final since 2009.

“I didn’t see her competing at this level again. I don’t think she did,” said 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova.

Here BBC Sport analyst Navratilova discusses Venus’ remarkable revival, the prospect of meeting sister Serena in an all-Williams final and how top players manage to maintain longevity.

LADIES’ SEMI-FINALS: ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court – play starts at 13:00 BST
Serena Williams USA [1] v Elena Vesnina RUS
Angelique Kerber GER [4] v Venus Williams USA [8]

‘Venus’ revival is astonishing’

Many observers – including Navratilova – doubted the likelihood of Venus Williams ever competing for a Grand Slam title again.

She dominated Wimbledon for almost a decade between 2000 and 2009, winning five titles and finishing runner-up in another three finals.

But the seven-times Grand Slam champion had become a peripheral figure – until this year – after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an illness that causes fatigue and joint pain, in 2011.

She says she refused to consider retirement, despite her world ranking plummeting to 103 by the end of 2011.

Now she is back in the top 10 and just one more victory away from a ninth Wimbledon final.

“Her revival is astonishing,” said 59-year-old Navratilova.

“We all thought she was going to quit and then she comes back into the top 10. Now she is two matches away from winning her sixth Wimbledon title.

“It is an amazing effort – most of all because of what she has gone through with this syndrome that is sapping her energy.

“It is so hard managing your energy when you get into your 30s anyway. So to be dealing with this disorder on top of that, and competing at the highest level, is extraordinary.

“Venus winning Wimbledon would be a Hollywood ending, no doubt.”

Oldest women to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in the Open Era
Player Age Grand Slam Result
Billie Jean King 39 years, 223 days 1983 Wimbledon Semi-final
Billie Jean King 38 years, 224 days 1982 Wimbledon Semi-final
Martina Navratilova 37 years, 258 days 1994 Wimbledon Runner-up
Martina Navratilova 36 years, 259 days 1993 Wimbledon Semi-final
Venus Williams 36 years, 21 days 2016 Wimbledon ???

‘Smiling Venus is lighting up Wimbledon’

Navratilova became the oldest female Grand Slam champion when, aged 33 years and 263 days, she won Wimbledon in 1990 – a record that stood until Serena Williams’ victory last year.

The American won three major titles in her 30s, another record – alongside Margaret Court – until it was surpassed by current world number one Williams.

But, with multiple Grand Slam titles in the trophy cabinet and millions of pounds of prize money in the bank, what keeps the likes of Navratilova and the Williams sisters going?

“I still felt that I could play better tennis, was still learning about the sport and just the love of it,” said Navratilova, who retired from the singles tour shortly after her 1994 final defeat by Conchita Martinez.

“That’s obviously coming through with Venus. When you see that smile on her face after winning, it lights up the whole court.

“You know your time is running out – I knew 1994 was my last Wimbledon, Venus might still be here for many more years – but you don’t have many more opportunities.

“She’s enjoying herself.”

‘You play smarter in your 30s’

So the fire stays in the belly of these great champions, according to Navratilova. But there is one opponent they cannot beat – the ageing process.

“Everything gets slower when you get older. Your legs, your mind and it takes longer to get ready,” Navratilova said.

“So you have to get smarter. And that’s what Venus is doing.

“Against quarter-final opponent Yaroslava Shvedova she had 15 winners and 12 unforced errors. They are numbers of a veteran who knows what they are doing and when to pull the trigger.

“Older players play safe within their ability. Venus is managing her energy and managing her winners/unforced errors percentage very well.

“It is maturity and knowing what your limits are.”

  • What makes a perfect Wimbledon champion?

Another all-Williams final?

Few would have predicted an all-Williams final at the start of the tournament. Now their first meeting in a Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009 is a possibility.

Serena must beat unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina, who had never even reached a Grand Slam quarter-final until this week, while Australian Open champion Kerber stands in Venus’ path.

“It’s hard to go against the Williams sisters both reaching the final because they have been there so many times,” Navratilova said.

“Serena is the huge favourite to win the whole thing when she gets this far in a Grand Slam.

“She seems to get better and better as a tournament goes on and you cannot go against her.”

Kerber, 28, has a 3-2 advantage over Venus Williams in their head-to-head record, although the American won their last meeting at the Montreal Open in 2014.

“For Venus, a lot of balls will be coming back from Kerber, but it is Venus’ match to win or lose,” Navratilova said.

“If she plays well enough she will definitely win the match. But Kerber is playing her best tennis since the Australian Open.

“I’d say maybe a slight edge to Venus.”

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