Andy Murray is one step closer to claiming the title at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. With an easy thumping of Tomas Berdych in straight sets, he will now play for the title in front of a fired up home crowd. With his solid form and fleet-of-foot defensive skills, Murray erased any doubt early in the match and breezed into the Wimbledon final with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Desperate for a win
The world number nine, Berdych, desperately needed a win in this semifinal matchup. He came into play having lost 15 straight matches to top five opponents. For his psyche and to regain the confidence of fans, he needed to prove his last victory over a top five player, Rafael Nadal in the 2015 Australian Open, was no fluke. Unfortunately, he would have no such luck today.
Murray got off to a good start with an easy hold and then a break in only the second game of the match. The world number two was buoyed by repeated misfires and constant mistakes by the top ranked Czech player on the ATP Tour. Several of Berdych's shots sailed wide on the day, and forehand gave him the most trouble. For all the work he did showing off his prowess previously in this tournament, it seemed that any semblance of a strong forehand simply abandoned Berdych on the day. Three errors off that shot handed Murray and easy break.
To his credit, Berdych would bounce back in the following game. He deployed one of his more effective volleys as he pounded the grass to send a smoking shot past a bewildered Murray. That break would be the only reprieve Berdych would get from the battering speed and befuddling play of his Scottish opponent.
More errors eventually gave Murray yet another break. With a chance to win the set on serve, the Scot got off to a rocky start. He missed an easy shot that breezed the sideline after getting careless with his forehand. However, Berdych was not up to the task of toppling the higher ranked Murray. His repeated misses on easy shots brought about groans from even the pro-Murray crowd at Centre Court. Murray skated away with the first set 6-3.
Magic Murray
Murray kept the good times rolling for the raucous crowd behind him in the subsequent set. Coming off a five-set marathon with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he seemed undeterred and not remotely tired as he tracked down nearly every single ball that Berdych sent his way. The Scot only faced a single break point in the second set. It was during the longest game of the set, and Berdych did his part to push the Briton to the limit. Unfortunately, the Czech was also terribly inconsistent himself. With his litany of errors, it would seem as if he simply handed the match away if not for the blazing speed and nifty shots displayed by the world number two.
The shots displayed by the men in the second set are emblematic of how the match had gone for Berdych. One particular point in the fourth game of that set perfectly encapsulated the mood on the day. In that game, Berdych tried for a passing shot on a volley but Murray was right after it. He swooped to his side and dug out the shot with a marvelous stab that lobbed itself past a flummoxed Berdych. Murray then walked away with the second set with double breaks. It seemed to be all downhill from there for Berdych.
The Scot was merciless as he churned out nine winners and four aces in the final set of the match. Emblematic of the match itself, Berdych failed to end his long losing streak against top five players when he committed another error, this time, forced off his backhand, that handed Murray the match. A jubilant Andy Murray bounced around the tennis court soaking in the adoration of his home crowd. With his return to the Wimbledon final for the first time since he won in 2013, the Scot has finally given the British crowd someone to believe in at the world's most storied and cherished tournament in tennis.
Giving them what they want
Murray has now reached more Grand Slam finals than any other man in British history. He has made the final of all three Grand Slam tournaments played so far this year. Though he lost the previous two, there is hope he will claim his second Wimbledon championship in front of a crowd that has come to adore him.
Berdych for his part, was disappointing from start to finish in the match. His great work to make the Wimbledon semifinal for the first time since 2010 will surely be appreciated. But it will not overshadow the fact that he has now lost his 115th match to a top ten player. His promising career prospects are dwindling and only time will tell if this was his last true shot at a major championship.
However, today was all about Andy Murray. he lingered for a little after his win to appreciate the cheers from the loving crowd. After his match, he mused on whether he'll be able to deliver another title they so desperately crave. He now faces a tall order in big-serving Milos Raonic, but Murray seems ready for the task.
“One more to go on Sunday," the smiling Brit told the BBC immediately after walking off Centre Court.