World No. 3 Andy Murray has been on a collision course with the Federer Express ever since the Wimbledon draw. Five rounds later, Murray and Roger Federer, the No. 2 player in the world, finally face off for a spot in the 2015 Wimbledon final.
Federer, who has looked fantastic in his run toward a record eighth Wimbledon crown, has owned the Brit in recent meetings. But with the partisan crown behind him, can Murray score the huge win over the Swiss master?
Read on below for a complete breakdown of this mouth-watering semifinal matchup. Meanwhile, click here for our preview of the other men’s semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet.
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Roger Federer vs. Andy Murray Betting Preview
Where: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon
A couple of rain delays weren’t nearly enough to derail the Fed Express, as he swept by Gilles Simon, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2, in just 95 minutes to reach his 10th career Wimbledon semifinal.
[sc:Other240banner ]Federer finally had his serve broken for the very first time in the tournament by the Frenchman, but was otherwise spectacular apart from that one blemish. The Swiss sent 73 percent of his first serves in play – a tournament high – and won 80 percent of those first serve points. That’s pretty much been the norm for Federer, who has won at least 79 percent of first serve points in all five of his matches thus far.
Federer’s serve will be a defining feature in his semifinal matchup with Andy Murray, who’s one of, if not the best returners in the game today. But Federer’s service game has been spot on against Murray, with the Swiss winning at least 70 percent of his first serve points against the Brit in their last three meetings.
Federer won all three of those matchups, which includes his 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals last year. Federer also beat Murray in their lone meeting at Wimbledon, a four-set final win back in 2012. The Swiss holds the slight edge in their career head-to-heads, 12 wins to 11.
After a dropping a set in each of his last two matches, World No. 3 Andy Murray made relatively short work of World No. 56 Vasek Pospisil in the quarterfinal. Murray sealed the straight-sets win – 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 – in two hours and 12 minutes to reach his sixth Wimbledon semifinal in the last seven years.
Murray’s service game remained strong as he sent 64 percent of his first serves in and won 84 percent of those first serve points. Murray was also highly efficient whenever he came to the net, winning 21 of 23 net points.
However, Murray’s trademark return game was uncharacteristically rusty for the second match in a row. Over those last two matches, Murray has won just 32.7 percent of return points, and has converted five of 20 break points. Murray’s return game will have to make a timely comeback in order to upset an in-form Federer.
But the Brit is in fine form himself, as he’s won his last 10 matches on grass. Murray also holds a win over Federer on Centre Court of Wimbledon, but it was during the final of the 2012 Olympics tennis tournament. Murray won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Murray should also be encouraged by Federer’s struggles to reach the final of Grand Slam events in recent years. The Swiss has made the semifinals in 11 of his last 15 Grand Slams, but has gone just 3-8 in those matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Federer (-110) returns to the final of Wimbledon with a four-set win over Murray.
