LONDON: Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic remain on course for a Wimbledon final showdown after the top two seeds took contrasting routes into the last four on Wednesday.
Djokovic will face Juan Martin del Potro for a place in Sunday’s final as the world number one clinched his 13th consecutive Grand Slam last four spot with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tomas Berdych.
The 2011 champion is yet to drop a set in his five matches at this year’s tournament and is now just two wins away from lifting the All England Club trophy for the second time.
Del Potro beat Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) after surviving a nasty fall in the opening game, which left the Argentine eighth seed needing several minutes of treatment on a left knee already heavily bandaged.
In the other half of the draw, Murray showed impressive resolve as the world number two battled back from two sets down to defeat unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5.
Murray, aiming to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles title since Fred Perry in 1936, will play Polish 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz for a place in the final for a second successive year.
Janowicz defeated compatriot Lukasz Kubot 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 to become Poland’s first male Grand Slam semi-finalist.
Djokovic, a six-time Grand Slam champion, recovered from 3-0 down in the second set and surged to victory in his 17th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearance.
“It was a close match,” Djokovic said. “But I have a commitment to go far in this tournament. I am playing some of my best tennis on grass even though it’s not my preferred surface,”
Murray, beaten by Roger Federer in last year’s final, has now won his last 16 matches on grass and will appear in his fifth successive Wimbledon semi-final after bringing Centre Court to their feet in celebration of his epic comeback.
“I came through an incredibly tough match. It could have gone the other way. I found a way to get through and that’s all you need,” said Murray.
Next up for Murray is the 22-year-old Janowicz, who fired 30 aces and 58 winners to see off Kubot before breaking down in tears.
“Really I have not many words to say right now,” Janowicz said. “I’m just really happy and it doesn’t matter if I’m the first or second from Poland.” - AFP
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