Aegon Championships 2015 Day 5: Murray storms backs

By Alex Sharp

Wimbledon.com’s highlights from the fifth day of action down at The Queen’s Club

Murray proves his steel

British No.1 Andy Murray illustrated his extensive battling qualities to conjure up a remarkable comeback against the resurgent Gilles Muller.

The Luxembourg left-hander had stunned reigning champion Grigor Dimitrov in his previous match and replicated that outstanding form in the first set.

Wielding his massive serve, Muller rushed Murray by canvassing the net and put away a collection of tidy volleys to break for 3-1.

Assured serve and volleying and a hooked passing shot saved two break points for Muller, who moved 4-1 up and powered his way to the opener 6-3.

Murray was becoming increasingly agitated by Muller’s pin point accuracy on the serve and volley, with a various sarcastic comments directed towards his dugout, but the Scot was undeterred and fought admirably.

A tie-break was needed to conclude the second set and to decide Murray’s fate. The world No.3 hit a sublime inside out forehand winner and clattered another pass down the line to lead 2-0.

Coach Jonas Bjorkman was on his feet after an aggressive volley pushed him 3-0 to the good, an advantage he maintained to keep his title pursuit alive.

Murray was in control and Muller finally let his astonishing level drop in game one of the third set, making just 30 per cent of first serves.

The Scot pounced and capitulated a forehand pass to break for 1-0 and consolidated the break with some brutal shots.

Muller was still rock solid at the net but failed to make any inroads on the Murray serve, who at 5-4 kept his composure to outwit his valiant opponent and win a draining match.

Murray has now won 23 of his past 25 matches, with Novak Djokovic the only player to beat him since February.

“Obviously you need a bit of luck sometimes when you're playing against someone who serves like Gilles,” said the British No.1.

“Definitely towards the end I started to relax more and return better and played some really good tennis at the end. Hopefully I can carry that form into tomorrow.”

"Yeah, it will be a tough match (with Troicki). He's had some very good wins in Stuttgart, and here, he beat Cilic who is very good on the grass and Isner. Looked like he was returning well against Isner. Today he was getting in a lot of his service games."

"He serves well, he's a very good mover, good backhand. He's obviously won a lot of matches lately. It will be a tricky match, but, you know, I've played tactically well against him in the past and hopefully will do the same again."

Troicki hits new heights

Serbian Viktor Troicki is certainly enjoying his time back on the grass. The 29-year-old reached the final at Stuttgart last week and has caught the eye with some resolute displays at The Queen’s Club this week.

Having toppled 2012 champion Marin Cilic on Thursday, Troicki returned to Centre court to banish the hopes of American John Isner 7-6(2), 6-3.

His reward is a semi-final, a first at the Aegon Championships, against Andy Murray. Troicki will have to spring another shock, having fallen to six defeats in their previous meetings on the Tour.

Simon refutes Raonic power

A fascinating contest of opposites unfolded between the destructive power of Milos Raonic and the tranquil counter-punching of Gilles Simon.

After two routine games the Canadian struck at 30 all, hitting a cannonball forehand winner down the line to seal an early break to lead 2-1.

Raonic, the third seed, was flourishing using a game of chip and charge off the backhand side and maintained control over a rather muted Simon to take the opener 6-4, having lost just three points off his first serve.

At 2-2 in the second set Raonic was imposing at the net but couldn’t convert two break points as Simon hung on during a 13 minute service games to lead.

The wily Frenchman sprung into life and acute angled drives were rewarded with his first break points, which he took with aplomb thanks to a marvellous backhand pass to consolidate the advantage. The world No.8 failed to reign back in his opponent, who served out the second to love.

Into the decider and Raonic’s irresistible serving was containing Simon, but world No.13 was chipping away at the Canadian’s resolve with some magnificent variety.

Simon, who has previously never been beyond the last 16 at The Queen’s Club, was now stringing together a collection of winners in long, gruelling rallies and forced the errors from Raonic to break.

At 6-5 Simon needed five match points in an increasingly tense game but held his nerve to complete a stunning victory.

“I feel it was really tough. I always lost against Milos before, and the way we played the first set I felt it would be the same,” said a relieved Simon.

“It's why it's hard to win against Milos. You break him on five games all. You feel like you have won the tournament.”

“The tennis I thought was great. I thought he played really well. I thought I played quite well,” said a disappointed Raonic. “The only thing I really have to be disappointed with is I wish I would have sort of guts it out a bit more, tried to play on my terms. I was waiting for him too much and I let him dictate.”

Anderson proves credentials

Awaiting Simon in the semi-finals is Kevin Anderson after the South African booked his maiden Aegon Championships final four spot with a hard-fought 7-6(7), 6-4 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Anderson has produced some exemplary grass court tennis on route in west London, beating four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt and Roland Garros winner Stan Wawrinka in style.

However the world No.34 put up a resolute fight and with no break points chalked up, a tie-break was required.

At 4-3 down Anderson hauled his game up a level at the crucial stage, with heavy serving, a fine angled volley and a well executed lob secured set point to wrestle the momentum his way.

Garcia-Lopez wasn’t deterred and achieved two break points in game one courtesy of a curling forehand pass. Anderson smothered any promise for the Spaniard by wrong-footing his opponent at the net to hold serve.

Another tie-break appeared to be looming but Anderson showed no mercy at 6-5, blasting two returns at Garcia Lopez’s feet, and a reactive backhand winner down the line out of nowhere notched up two match points.

Anderson swatted away a volley to roar in celebration and advance to Saturday’s line-up.

“It feels great coming in here and going one round further. I have been in the quarters a few times. I think just in Queen's itself, it's a pretty big tournament, so that feels good,” said Anderson.

“I feel like a lot of things are paying off, and it's a continued battle to keep doing that. But I definitely like things I'm working on are paying off, and I can see them on the court that it's rewarding to me.”

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