Straight sets were all Andy Murray needed to book his place in a third successive Wimbledon semi-final, as the Briton defeated Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday.
The Scotsman, still looking for his first Grand Slam title, faces a very tough task to get to the final though as Rafael Nadal will once again be his last four opponent. He finished off Mardy Fish in his quarter-final, not long after Murray completed his 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Spain’s Lopez.
The British number one and fourth seed was always in control on Centre Court and, after seeing his opponent deny him his first break point of the day, he forced Lopez to net a forehand and hand him a 4-2 lead. Murray would notch up three more break points in the eighth game but Lopez survived before being served out in the next.
Murray again broke Lopez in the fifth game of the second set, allowing him to take full command and a 2-0 lead in the match after another five games went to serve.
Lopez was on the ropes now, especially when he needed his trainer to look at a knee knock for a second time. There was also a scare for the Scot, who appeared to jar his ankle, but he carried on strongly to break again in the fifth game and save Lopez’s only two break points in the eighth.
Two games later Murray was in the last four!