Day 9 Today at Wimbledon

on court, even though we are only in the quarterfinals? That is what

everybody said this morning, but as the sun sets, it has been another

day which has underlined the the vagaries of the seedings, find

themselves up against each other on one of the most famous tennis courts

of them all, for a place in the semifinals. The most eagerly visit

painted map ever... In Poland. It was Janowicz against Kubot. From

Gdansk to Warsaw, a nation stopped today to watch an historic day in

their sporting history. Boris and John I suspect watched on with a

mixture of amazement and bemusement, as the days events

unfolded. Wimbledon, the quarterfinals. And the money, --

Andy Murray, a sporting superstar who has gone from gold to an

historic major title to take Murray mania to new realms. Fernando

Verdasco, a Spanish lefty with matinee idol looks. It had the

potential for an upset. They had met nine times before, and Murray had

won eight of them. Many of the pundits in the media said this was

the easiest of all 4/4-finals to call. It's just goes to show what

many of us know about this game. We are going to join it in the first

try the job shot. BORIS BECKER: Verdasco was trying to

Verdasco, just stepping in, having a crack at it.

TIM HENMAN: It is definitely an opportunity to attack Murray's game,

on the second serve. That was 94mph, a bit quicker than it has

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at forehand, Heath hoped it was skipping across the baseline and

unleashing his forehand. Wonderful! Well, he has made a lot of errors on

that side, but he is sticking with it. Just the 99mph. Amazing. Murray

on the brink of losing his first set nerve on the second.

JOHN INVERDALE: Were we in for a long night? Here we are in the

second set, with the Spaniard been vulnerable. Right now, serving

for a two sets to love lead, he is going to be wanting to make some

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looked at the crowd, and he is just about leaping up there are, asking

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recovering from it. That gave him 0-30, the error makes its 0-40.

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safe, with the backhand, or risk it and go crosscourt. He needs to make

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the right decision now, to get back behind the baseline, and he was

beaten by this forehand. He has got to get on the front foot. Three

UMPIRE: Advantage, Verdasco. Phenomenal second serve from

Verdasco. Murray did very well to get into the rally. He got the

foothold that he wanted and then made a bad decision, to play the

drop shot. All of a sudden, from three break points, it is now set

is in control on Centre Court. JOHN INVERDALE: As they say in such

situations, a good game to win. Here is Murray in the third set, with a

blistering winner down the line. He actually blew the Spaniard away in

that third set. And here we are in the fourth set. An overhead, to make

it 2-2. We have been here before, many times, but that does not make

it any easier to cope with. For everybody watching on Henman Hill,

and the millions and millions watching at home, it was unbearable.

BORIS BECKER: What an unbelievable second serve from Verdasco, 116mph,

this time. Murray does not like the call. The umpire just having a word

with the line judge, perhaps he said something? Perhaps it was somebody

behind him in the crowd. He is supposed to say something, he is a

take that many risks on your second serve. Considering, nine double

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faults in five sets is not that That took everything, from both

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It is a challenge, so just hold on for a second. I cannot believe you

have got me - is that what he is saying? He has got it. What a

saying? He has got it. What a performance of excellence. It was a

tough situation. The second set was a bad set of tennis for me. I was

3-1 up and then made some bad mistakes. I made some poor choices

on the court. And then I turned it round really well after that. I

thought about what I was doing wrong. The best way to get myself

back into the match was to change tactics a little bit, I was a bit

more patient, I took a bit longer between points, I did not rush, and

I did not give him any free points after that. I gave away too many

points in the second set. I thought the first set was a good standard,

we both played some good tennis. And he came up with some good shots in

the last game of the set. But in the second set, I was making way too

many mistakes. Well, John, they all lived happily ever after. Just the

way you wanted it, right? He is going to make a good commentator,

someday. He had it dead right. First set could have gone either way, the

second, he should have won, 3-1 up. But I thought the turning point was

in the third, because he was panicking on the changeover,

freaking out a bit, trying to get rid of some of that banks. And when

he stepped out on the court in the third set, it seems like Verdasco,

even though he was up, was the more uptight, and that immediately

relaxed Andy Murray, and he was able to take it to Verdasco, able to pull

back a little bit, like he said, play high percentage tennis, and get

that setback. Listening to your commentary, Boris, you were saying

it was a bit like going back in time to Andy Murray of a few years ago,

being less positive on the court, allowing his opponent to dictate?

Gets, the first two sets reminded me of that a lot. Even in the first

set, I did not think the quality was that high. I felt that Murray was

waiting for Verdasco to miss, but he did not do that a whole lot today.

He played very well. The beginning of the third set was crucial, it

could've gone way. But he panicked. For a moment, I thought he was going

to cry. He put his towel over his face. Moment got to him. But look,

this guy had not been here before, he has beaten him eight out of nine

times, he is not playing with the same confidence, you would suspect,

although that new racket has given him that zip off the server and the

forehand, which reminded me of that other lefty from Spain. The one who

left town a long time ago. But he imposed his will. When I had to play

this guy sometimes, he just came out there, like this, and you just felt

that. The power, that was getting to Andy. Verdasco was hitting a huge

ball. That was a tremendous effort by him. And you made the point a

couple of days ago, you said, do not underestimate the fact that Murray

has not played a left-hander all year, and it might take him set to

adjust. Everybody was thinking, we will take the first set, but it was

when he did not just in the second set that people started panicking

trip I am not sure it was so much the lefty game. Yes, you have got

the serve out wide, but it was the sheer pace and pop that Verdasco

had. It is something for Federer to think about. He has got the smaller

head, and I wonder if he would think about going up a little bigger,

95-100, like Verdasco did. Something to think about for Roger. Mentioning

Roger, we were expecting it was going to be him in the

quarterfinal, but it wasn't, because the other quarterfinal was an all

Polish affair. Here are just a few edited highlights of that match,

edited highlights of that match, because we showed you half an hour

of this just before we came on air. It was a great day for Polish sport,

more than anything else. You could tell from the scenes at the end what

it meant. It is your take on Janowicz as a player, Boris?

great, powerful, grass court game, which is going to give Murray a lot

of trouble. On grass, he is positive, he comes forward. Look at

that first serve, that is going to trouble anybody. I do not know how

long you are going to show this, but this was rather magical, to see

these two guys exchanging shirts, it was really a great moment for this

country, to have two guys in the quarterfinals. There is the

embrace, which could have gone on forever. Janowicz found it very hard

forever. Janowicz found it very hard to compose himself at the end.

Congratulations, we could see how much this victory has meant to you -

perhaps you could be kind enough to describe those feelings to us now?

am just really, really happy. I did not expect that I could go that far

in a Grand Slam, at Wimbledon. I am just very happy. How proud are you

to be the first Polish man to make it to the semifinals of a Grand

Slam? Not really, I do not have many words to say right now, I am just

really... I am really happy, it does not matter if I am the first or the

second. This is my first semifinal, and I have nothing else to say.

first time I ever got to the semis at Wimbledon, I found it more

difficult to do the interview then I did playing. I can totally relate to

that, hyperventilating Derek, it shows you what it means. I think

this guy could very well win major acts. If he keeps serving like that,

Andy Murray has got problems... Very much so. He has got a good game to

play Murray. He has got nothing to lose. He is going to put it on the

line again on Friday, but I think Murray has had a wake-up call today.

The question about whether the lower ranked players are good enough to

beat Murray or Djokovic, I do not think that is a question any more.

If Murray is not 100%, watch out. Let's go to the other half of the

draw. Wimbledon, the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic, the best on the

planet, the man who changed the world order. Six Grand Slam titles

and counting. With him, these days, there is no surrender. Tomas

Berdych, in his 40th consecutive Major, runner-up here before. He has

a booming serve and punishing forehand, the big names do not faze

him. JOHN INVERDALE: Two big men, serving

JOHN INVERDALE: Two big men, serving big and hitting big, and it was a

high-quality first set. That was a delightful bit of touch from the

Czech at the net. And this one, a great running pass from Djokovic.

The net result was that we found ANDREW COTTER: That's good, it is

just good. JOHN LLOYD: There was a bad bounce

there, the ball did not come through. Djokovic, for the first

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time in this Championships, has a He had a chance on the second serve

on the forehand. Not a good error in that rally. He couldn't take any

of the break points. Hey he is with It was wide. Despite being pushed

harder than ever before in this championship, the first set goes to

That was looking back into court. That is a clay-court shot not a

cross-court shot really. -- grass It is getting harder and harder on

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serve Fort Berdych now. -- for He just miss hit that forehand and

the ball sat up and invited Berdych to take command. Now, two break

He gives it away at the end and Berdych comes roaring back into the

set. The force was very much with

Very soon after that, it became 3-0 Victory to the number-one seed. He

is still to lose a set in the Championships so far. I am thinking

about what I need to do on the court. I have the right commitment.

I am dedicated to go far in this I have played some of the best

tennis of my career on grass. It is not my preferred surface but I won

this title before and I hope that experience can help me in the

upcoming challenge. There are all sorts of mind games going on

because before that match, he said he was playing the best tennis of

his life and he is better on grass now than he was two years ago. He

is putting a market down to everybody. He seemed to be in

control from the word go. She when you babies beat -- play these big

powerful guys like Berdych, you are vulnerable. Two breaks down in the

second, but it doesn't seem like he can keep the intensity up to beat

Berdych. I do think he is a better player. When he is on his top form,

he is the best player in the world even on this surface. He couldn't

say anything else. I don't like Wimbledon or I would rather be in

Serbia? Of course he is playing good. Does he play his best ever? I

don't know. He is winning in straight sets. He said his goal was

to win the French, right? How much extra motivation, because of the

manner in which she lost the semi- final in France two Nadal, how much

does that feel the fire foreign to win here? He should try to utilise

it to his advantage and that was the best that I have ever seen two

players play on a clay court. To be that close to beating Nadal, if I

was around him I would say look at the glass half full and I commend

him for doing that. Do you know a coastal resort in Serbia? Give me a

break. Let us go to one more match. This was a match of the

extraordinary scintillating drama Wimbledon, the Latin Quarter. David

Ferrer who is so relentless he is known as the wall. Seven Grand Slam

quarter finals in succession. The highest pedigree. He has a mission

defining moment to come here this year. Juan Martin del Potro, an

Argentine icon. US Open champion four years ago. Injury has been his

nemesis but make no mistake, this man is seriously good and has a new

fondness for grass. This was a match that almost ended

as soon as it began. The first game of the match and down goes the

giant Argentinian on his already heavily damaged and strapped left

knee. Was that it? Look at that! That was no Maradona dive. That was

What he default then and there putting Ferrer into his first

Wimbledon semi-final. He decided to battle on and he we are at 1-1 in

the air the stages. -- the early If I were Ferrer I would start

using the drop shot. He is looking to get to the semi-finals. He has

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That is what you would like to see a little more of from del Potro in

that serve. I don't know if he has JOHN MCENROE: So far, he is content

He has been a g and he is the type of guy who finds it hard to slow

down when he gets a little negative or tight and he plays quicker and

A Stanning winner from del Potro He was conscious of his left knee

for the remainder of the first set. He was middling it like a batsman

in a cricket game. He won the first set on one leg, effectively. He we

Here we are with del Potro leading and we are in a third-set tie-break

so it is now or never for the brave Just a little conservative with the

approach. That is Ferrer's weaker side so no surprise there that it

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Ace number 11 but it seems like he Someone called that out. The lines

lady called that out late. It was overruled. UMPIRE: Replay the point.

Ferrer could challenge I suppose. I'm not sure why they are replaying

it. Everybody getting a little Ferrer doesn't have the luck of

being six foot six inches. There is absolutely nothing he can do when

del Potro hit his spots as he did In a set that is this close, it is

the wafer-thin margins that can That is a big lead he has now.

Del Potro is in the driver's seat. He can taste it now. Who would have

thought a couple of hours ago he would be about to serve his way

He found a way to get the ball back and that is all he could do. He got

his reward. He sure did. That was surprising that he missed that ball.

Ferrer is suddenly back in business What a return of serve! That must

feel like a dagger through Ferrer's heart. It is a serve which has

worked for him and he has gone back to it. The last year he has gone

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out wide and has been crushed by He played it safe there and get the

easy error. Del Potro blinked again. So close to victory. And yet so

close to an awful lot more hard There is nothing to say except it

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is match point. An incredible He has done it. What a way to get

through to your first ever Wimbledon semi-final. A staggering

performance from this man. House Centre Court ever witnessed such a

performance of Shia, p Op ball- striking from anyone. -- pure.

Exceptional! Wow! A wonderful moment. A wonderful moment in our

moment. A wonderful moment in our sport.

A quite amazing performance by you. How serious was the injury to your

need? I think it will be dangerous if I am not careful in the next

day's. I could finish the match. I think I'd beat -- played my best

tennis in this tournament to make - - against David. How close were you

to having two pull-out? Really Paul -- close because I felt a lot of

pain in the beginning of the match. Exactly like I did before. It is

really painful. I twisted my knee again. The doctor gave me something

and I could finish the match. I am so glad.

It was just a fantastic match that We will talk about those games in a

moment. John, how did del Potro end up playing that well when it was

such a serious injury. It limited his options. I think he then

becomes more dangerous. Two years ago, he played well on grass and

last year he lost to Ferrer. That was a big disappointment but he

came in thinking, I can do some damage. But when he got hurt, I am

so happy I was wrong, and he would - but was able to step up and

finish playing. He can to beat -- he can beat anyone if he plays like

that. That match was extraordinary. I guess the physios and the medical

team are the key people now. They should get medals. The question

week ask tomorrow about del Potro because it was a serious injury on

the same knee and it will be sore tomorrow. The question is how can

he recover? He recovered between the third and 4th round match but

it will be more difficult. That match said so much about both guys.

Ferrer is so dog-eared and so respected at and del Potro had the

will to speed and stay out there. When you hurt yourself in the first

game and you have to played for three hours to beat a guy like

Ferrer, that says a lot about him. There was. Way he put his head in

his hands and we thought he was going to cry because we thought to

he would have to pull-out. He came back on the debts of Defence --

despair. A great character. You said it. He is a real fighter. He

is finding ways to win when it is almost impossible to do so and he

is still in. Let's hope he recovers in time. Let's hope he has a day on

a Serbian coastal resort! Here is the line-up for the women that is

This is a chance for Lisicki, isn't it? Yes. A long way to go though.

Some of the other players are the same age. With knees strapped. She

is on top form and she has had a day to recover. This is the first

women's semi-finals in the Open era when there is not a single Grand

Slam champion from any other competition so it really is open.

Who is it for you? I have to go with the French players. The other

side is tough... It the German player doesn't play to her ability

Ben Radwanska wins. What would your choice of music be to close the

show? Have a think. We got a Juan Martin del Potro to choose the