After faltering after two dominating sets, Scotland’s Andy Murray defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first tennis player from Great Britain to make the gentlemen’s Wimbeldon finals since Henry “Bunny” Austin in 1938.
Murray hopes to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry accomplished the feat in 1936. Perry took three—Wimbledon and the French and U.S. Opens.
Murray came out strong to win the first two sets, then gave up the third set. The 26-year-old Scott found his form in the final set, but Tsonga didn’t go easily. The 28-year-old Tsonga made a series of excellent, even amazing shots to counter the Scot’s better all-around skills, even delivering the hardest serve of the match at 140 mph. Both players covered their whites in grass stains diving for balls, Ultimately, Murray prevailed, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
Murray, fourth seed at Wimbledon will face six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who was seeded third. Federer upset Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. This will be Federer’s eighth final. The 31-year-old Swiss player hopes to tie Peter Sampras’ record for most Open-Era Wimbledon wins.
