ESNY

In their 2015 Wimbledon semi-final match, Roger Federer overcame a resilient Andy Murray to have an opportunity to win his eighth championship in his brilliant tennis career

If the woman’s semi-final match at Wimbledon on Thursday lacked fireworks, the men’s match didn’t.

Roger Federer, ranked number two in the World according to the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals), defeated third-ranked player Andy Murray on Friday.

The match, even though the numbers reflect Federer won in straight sets, certainly did not have the feel of being one-sided.

Federer had his hands full, but played to his cool and calm demeanor.

Prior to yesterday’s head-to-head, he and Murray had met 23 times. Of those times, Federer had taken 12 of those. In Grand Slams, Federer was 4-1 versus Murray. It was a rematch of 2012, where the two got the best of each other. In 2012, Federer and Murray met in the Finals of Wimbledon, where Federer defeated Murray. Later that year, at the Summer Olympics in London, Murray exacted revenge and won gold.

Yesterday’s match was another chapter added to their history; and, it didn’t disappoint.

To best describe yesterday, it was a battle of two styles: Murray’s power game against Federer’s strategic play. The first two sets were almost identical to each other. Both featured back and forth play, where one man would win a game and the other would respond by winning the next. Both Federer and Murray were depended on their service games to carry them through. The first and second sets ended in 7-5, in favor of Federer.

However, the pivotal point of the match may have come in the 12th game of the first set, where Federer broke Murray’s service and won the game and set at 7-5. If that wasn’t considered the turning point, then the 10th game of the second set proved it’s entertainment value. With set at 5-4, Federer appeared to have Murray on the ropes, going up 0-40 in the game.

Murray didn’t quit; and, the crowd at the All English Tennis Club didn’t let him. He rallied back in the 15-minute game to bring and never yielded. Through seven deuces, six set points, and four deuces, Murray finally bent at the knee to Federer. He took that and the next two games to go up two sets, entering the third set.

In it, Federer closed the deal by taking over with his play on the court. You could see it in his serves and returns that he wanted to close this match. And close he did, winning 6-4 to advance to the finals tomorrow.

It was not easy, but Federer proved why he has been a seven-time champion of Wimbledon.

He will meet the defending champion and number one ranked in the world Novak Djokovic, who won his earlier match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Federer is 20-19 against Djokovic.

I'm a blogger trying to make it in this world. Have been, and always will be, a fan of the NYR and NYG. Writing for the New Jersey Devils cause, well, someone has to do it!