Magic Murray makes history! Andy becomes first British man in Wimbledon final for 74 years after four set victory over Tsonga to set up final showdown with Federer

PUBLISHED: 18:47, 6 July 2012 | UPDATED: 19:35, 6 July 2012

Andy Murray became the first British player in 74 years to reach the men's singles final at Wimbledon with a dramatic fourth-set victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

For two sets it looked like the Scot would have no trouble assigning 1938 runner-up Bunny Austin's name to history, but Tsonga fought back and it was with relief and delight that Murray sealed a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

The 25-year-old will face Roger Federer in Sunday's final, looking to win his first grand slam title at his fourth attempt and become the first home player to lift the men's singles trophy at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

Relief: Andy Murray points to the sky after winning the match

Battle: The fourth set was an epic tussle

There was no doubt the Scot went into the match as the favourite having beaten Tsonga in five of their six previous meetings, including in the quarter-finals here two years ago.

The Frenchman, though, has been a consistent improver and beat Federer in the last eight at Wimbledon 12 months ago from two sets down, the first man ever to do so against the Swiss at a grand slam.

Applause: Murray laps up the adulation of the fans

Tough luck: Murray and Jo-Wilfried Songa in conversation after the match

Murray began confidently and aggressively, and made the best possible start with a break in Tsonga's first service game, nailing a backhand down the line.

The Frenchman had started slowly but he began to find his form and forced Murray to save two break points in the fifth game, which he did with aplomb and then fired down two aces to move 4-1 ahead.

Crucial: Andy Murray celebrates winning a vital game

Good start: Murray got off to a fine opening

ROGER FEDERER v ANDY MURRAY

7 Head-to-head 8

30 Age 25

Birthplace

Basel, Switzerland Dunblane, Scotland

6'1" Height 6'3"

187lbs (85 kg) Weight 185lbs (84 kg)

1998 Turned Pro 2005

39/6 This year Won/Lost 26/9

846/192 Career Won/Lost 349/116

74 Career Titles 22

£46m Career Prize Money £13.3m

And he held his advantage to take the set, bringing up set point with a crunching forehand down the line and then clinching it with a simple winner.

At that stage, it was a far cry from the extreme tension of Murray's four-hour win over David Ferrer on Wednesday, let alone his previous semi-finals here against Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal.

Only Tim Henman has ever lost his first four semi-finals at the All England Club, and Murray wanted to keep it that way.

The fourth seed's serve, such a weapon all fortnight, was again proving a reliable ally, and he was also getting plenty of balls back in play off the Tsonga delivery.

The Frenchman's serve had only been broken four times in the tournament before this match, but Murray got his reward for more excellent play in the fifth game of the second set, moving 3-2 ahead when Tsonga drilled a forehand wide, and once again a single break was enough.

New balls please: Tsonga was hit in a delicate area by a Murray shot

Rally: Murray and Tsonga in action

The statistics showed just what a superb performance it had been from Murray.

In the first two sets he hit 21 winners and made only four unforced errors, while Tsonga won just two points against serve in the whole of the second set.

It was all too easy, this was a Wimbledon semi-final after all, and victory seemed a little further away when Murray's level dropped for the first time in the second game of the third set and Tsonga broke to love.

The 27-year-old was throwing everything he had at Murray, and, although he missed a chance to move 4-0 ahead, his serve was working very well now and he denied his opponent a break back.

History: Tsonga beat this year's finalist Roger Federer in a thriller last time around

Tumble: Murray reacts to a fall during the match

Murray had lifted his game again but the damage was already done and Tsonga took the set despite being momentarily felled by a shot from his opponent drilled right into a delicate area.

A shout of 'New balls please' from someone in the crowd caused much mirth, although Tsonga was not laughing.

The start of the fourth set was huge for both players, and it was Murray who made the first move, breaking for a 3-1 lead and moving to within touching distance of the final.

Tsonga was not done yet, though, playing some stunning points to break back immediately.

He was the last Frenchman to beat Murray at a grand slam, in the first round of the Australian Open in 2008 when he went on to reach his first grand slam final.

Onlooker: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears

Oops: Tsonga was making several unforced errors

A second final for Tsonga was still a long way away though, and Murray had two points for a 5-3 lead when his opponent, who had volleyed so well, dumped a regulation ball in the net.

He could not take the chances, though, twice ending up on the grass, first through a slip and then a diving volley that landed wide.

It was a big chance, and Murray knew it. Suddenly he looked tight, and Tsonga brought up two break points of his own.

Packed: Fans crowded on 'Murray Mount'

Thrilled: Fans enjoyed an exciting match

The fourth seed was not helped by a poor line call on a big first serve but his opponent charitably blazed two shots over the baseline and again Murray held on.

The winners had dried up, but Murray piled on the pressure with Tsonga serving at 6-5 behind, moving to love-30, and soon he had two match points when the Frenchman netted a volley.

There was a deafening roar inside Centre Court, and Murray looked to have taken his chance with a brilliant forehand return.

Dramatically, it was called out, but HawkEye showed it to be in and the Scot, almost overcome with emotion, looked up at the sky as he took in his achievement.

Comeback: Tsonga refused to give in after a poor start

Blue sky: The roof was opened before the game

ANDY MURRAY FACTFILE

1987: Born May 15, Dunblane, Scotland.
1999: December - Wins junior Orange Bowl title in Miami.
2004: September - Becomes first British winner of US Open boys' title, beating Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
2005: March - Becomes youngest British Davis Cup player, aged 17, in match against Israel.
June - Defeats Radek Stepanek to become first Scot to reach third round at Wimbledon. Loses to David Nalbandian.
October - Reaches first ATP final at Thailand Open, losing to Roger Federer.
2006: February 20 - Claims first ATP title by beating Lleyton Hewitt in San Jose.
February 28 - Moves above Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in rankings to become British number one.
April 14 - Splits from coach Mark Petchey.
July 3 - Loses to Marcos Baghdatis in fourth round at Wimbledon.
July 26 - American Brad Gilbert appointed Murray's new coach.

Strong: Murray played the first two sets superbly

2007: January 22 - Loses five-set thriller to Rafael Nadal in Australian Open fourth round.
February 18 - Defends San Jose title with victory over Ivo Karlovic.
October 28 - Wins St Petersburg Open, beating Fernando Verdasco.
November 14 - Splits with coach Gilbert.
2008: January 5 - Beats Stanislas Wawrinka to win Qatar Open.
February 17 - Wins Open 13 tournament in Marseille, beating Mario Ancic.
July 2 - Loses to Nadal in Wimbledon quarter-finals.
August 3 - Defeats Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati to claim first Masters Series title.
August 12 - Suffers first-round defeat by Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei at Beijing Olympics.
September 7 - Beats top seed Nadal in semi-finals of US Open to reach first grand slam final.
September 8 - Beaten 6-2 7-5 6-2 by defending champion Federer in US Open final.
September 21 - Wins his singles matches but Great Britain lose to Austria to be relegated from Davis Cup World Group.
October 19 - Wins Madrid Masters with victory over Gilles Simon.
October 26 - Wins St Petersburg Open, beating Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev.
2009: January 11 - Wins Qatar Open, beating Andy Roddick.
February 15 - Wins ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, beating Nadal.
March - Wins Miami Masters, beating Djokovic.
May 11 - Overtakes Djokovic to become world number three.
June 2 - Loses to Fernando Gonzalez in French Open quarter-finals.
June 14 - Becomes first British player since 1938 to win Queen's Club title, beating James Blake in the final.
July 3 - Reaches first Wimbledon semi-final but loses 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 to Roddick.
August 16 - Wins Montreal Masters with victory over Juan Martin Del Potro, and becomes world number two.
November 8 - Wins comeback event in Valencia after wrist injury. Later finishes year at world number four.

Murray waits to hear about the final point

2010: January 31 - Loses 6-3 6-4 7-6 to Federer in Australian Open final.
May 30 - Beaten by Tomas Berdych in French Open fourth round.
July 2 - Loses Wimbledon semi-final 6-4 7-6 6-4 to Nadal.
July 27 - Splits with coach Miles Maclagan after two and a half years.
August 15 - Beats Nadal and Federer as he defends his Masters title in Toronto.
October 17 - Beats Federer in final to win Shanghai Masters.
November 27 - Loses 7-6 3-6 7-6 to Nadal after more than three hours in a classic semi-final at ATP World Tour Finals in London.
2011: January 30 - Beaten 6-4 6-2 6-3 by Djokovic in Australian Open final.
June 3 - Loses 6-4 7-5 6-4 to eventual champion Nadal in French Open semi-final.
June 13 - Beats Tsonga to win AEGON Championships at Queen's Club.
July 1 - Loses 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 against Nadal in Wimbledon semi-final.
August 21 - Wins Western & Southern Open crown in Cincinnati when world number one Novak Djokovic retires injured when trailing 6-4 3-0.
September 10 - Loses 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2 to Rafael Nadal in US Open semi-final.
September 18 - Helps Great Britain win Davis Cup promotion with a 5-0 victory over Hungary in Glasgow.

October 2 - Beats American Donald Young 6-2 6-0 in Thailand Open final.
October 9 - Beats Nadal 3-6 6-2 6-0 to win Japan Open final.
October 16 - Completes hat-trick of tournament victories by beating David Ferrer 7-5 6-4 in Shanghai Masters final, to take him above Federer and to number three in world rankings.
November 22 - Pulls out of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a groin injury. Federer's victory in the tournament takes him back to world number three.
December 31 - Hires eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl as his new coach.
2012: January 27 - Loses 6-3 3-6 6-7 6-1 7-5 to Djokovic in epic Australian Open semi-final lasting four hours and 50 minutes.
June 6 - Murray's French Open run ends in the quarter-finals with defeat by David Ferrer.
July 6 - Reaches Wimbledon final for the first time with 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

KATCHING MY I

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Friday, 6 July 2012

Andy Murray becomes first British man in Wimbledon final for 74 years

Magic Murray makes history! Andy becomes first British man in Wimbledon final for 74 years after four set victory over Tsonga to set up final showdown with Federer

ROGER FEDERER v ANDY MURRAY

ANDY MURRAY FACTFILE