Andy Murray vs Jo Wilfried Tsonga Murray Wins First set...

Roger Federer, Andy Murray set up historic finale at Wimbledon 2012 WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Roger Federer is back in the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2009. If that seems like a long gap for the six-time champion, imagine how all of Britain feels: Andy Murray is the first man from t... More

Roger Federer, Andy Murray set up
oric finale at Wimbledon 2012 WIMBLEDON,
and (AP) -- Roger Federer is back in the
ledon final for the first time since
. If that seems like a long gap for the
time champion, imagine how all of Britain
s: Andy Murray is the first man from the
country to play for the title at the All
and Club in 74 years. Both are playing
history. Already the owner of a record
rand Slam titles, but none in the past 2½
s, Federer can equal two marks held by
Sampras with one more victory Sunday:
n Wimbledon championships, and 286 weeks
o. 1 in the ATP rankings. So far 0-3 in
r finals, without claiming even one set,
ay can become the first British man to
ect any Grand Slam title since Fred Perry
Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in
. "Everyone loves Roger at Wimbledon,
a majority of people are going to want to
Andy win this time. ... They can inspire
. They can pick him up. But at the same
, they might make him feel like he's
ing all the hopes and dreams of a nation
is shoulders. That's a lot to deal with,"
ras said in a telephone interview. "And
as to play Roger Federer, so he'll have
hands full." Yes, Federer still has
ledon. And Wimbledon still has
rer. After seeing his grip on the
s-court Grand Slam tournament slip away
a pair of quarterfinal losses the past
years, the third-seeded Federer
serted himself by beating defending
pion and top-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-3,
6-4, 6-3 Friday. Djokovic or Rafael
l won the nine previous majors, and both
assed Federer in the rankings. But after
ng six of his last seven matches against
ovic, all on clay or hard courts, Federer
the upper hand on grass, the first time
7 career meetings they've played each
r on that surface. "People were like,
are we going to survive a Wimbledon
l without you?'" Federer joked about his
ier-than-usual exits in 2010 and 2011.
me, it was no problem. I went on
tion and relaxed. Of course, it feels
t to be in the Wimbledon final." No need
ell that to Murray. Not since Bunny
in in 1938 had someone representing
ain won a men's semifinal at Wimbledon -
l, that is, Murray hit a forehand return
er that clipped a sideline to eliminate
5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-3, 6-4,
7-5. It was a thrill-a-minute match,
both players smearing their white
orms with grass and dirt stains by diving
volleys. After a replay review to make
that last shot was in, Tsonga and Murray
ed. The Frenchman put his hand on the
ff of Murray's neck and they had a
thy chat near the net. Then Murray sat in
sideline chair, tilted his head back and
ed his eyes, the sounds of a raucous
ding ovation ringing through Centre
t. "A big relief," Murray said. "It was
ry emotional end to the match. I've just
to try to keep it together for the
l." He had lost in the semifinals each
he past three years, part of an 0-11 rut
British men in the final four. For
des, the locals who love their tennis
t with the angst of seeing their players
so close, yet so far. "He's got sort of
monkey off the nation's back with the
t finalist in 74 years, but I think a
opportunity to kill two birds with one
e," said Tim Henman, a Brit who lost in
semifinals from 1998-2002, twice to
ras. "It seems like it could be
iny." Even Prime Minister David Cameron
hed in on what he called the "great
." "I'll be watching the final on Sunday
like the rest of the country, will be
ing right behind Andy Murray," Cameron
in a statement. "I wish him the best of
." Murray actually leads his
-to-head series with Federer 8-7. But
rer won their finals at the 2008 U.S.
and 2010 Australian Open, the last time
as a Grand Slam champion. Less

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Added Jul 7, 2012  

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