Wimbledon live: Nadal ousts Murray

7.42 Nadal beats Murray in four sets

7.40 Three match points

7.37 Murray holds and it’s do or depart time as Nadal serves for the match.

7.35 Murray saves with an ace

7.34 Match point Nadal

7.32 Not even close. Murray doesn’t win a point. He serves to stay in the match.

7.28 Now would be a decent time to break for Murray. May as well throw the kitchen sink at Nadal now.

7.19 Perhaps signs that Murray is beginning an upward curve in form. Still, Nadal has made only one unforced error in this set as opposed to seven from Murray.

7.15 Murray had a real go in that Nadal service game, forcing two break points. But he came up short. Time for the Scot to throw caution to the wind.

7.14 Back to deuce. And round and round we go.

7.12 Another Murray break point.

7.11 Back to deuce.

7.10 Break point for Murray.

7.04 Murray manages to hold though.

7.03 Consecutive double faults from Murray.

7.00 Neil Harman tweets: “I’m afraid that Rafa is beginning to play some rather special tennis now #makingthemostofareprieve.”

6.58 Boris Becker: “If Nadal keeps whipping backhand cross-court winners, he’s in the zone.”

6.55 Nadal is officially playing superbly. Murray cannot barely sniff a stroke to finish off a point.

6.54 Two break points for Nadal

6.51 Murray was brilliant in the first set. I wonder if he threw everything into that, in terms of intensity? He’s certainly be subdued since. Nadal just keeps at the same level. He wears opponents down.

6.49 Nadal forces Murray into an error at 40-30 and takes the third set. Is there any way back for Murray?

6.44 Nadal picks off Murray for a second time in the set. he’s cooking now. Murray looks a little forlorn.

6.40 “Come on Murray, it’s your destiny,” shouts a grown man. The shame.

6.34 Nadal growing stronger and wearing Murray down. the champion just keeps getting the ball back.

6.21 Nadal breaks again. Murray has fallen off the edge of the world at the moment.

6.19 Murray comes back to deuce.

6.17 Two break points for Nadal after a Murray double fault.

6.13 We’re back where we started. Murray will feel chastened at that set loss, though because he handed it to the Spaniard.

6.12 Two set points for Nadal.

6.10 Murray has dipped alarmingly rather than Nadal suddenly finding his form. Double faults, missed smashes etc. Sloppy. Nadal to serve for the set.

6.03 We’ll take the blame for that Nadal break. That’s what happens when you write off the Spaniard. In others news, the BBC have decided this match is more important than world news, shunting the six o’clock news to BBC2. Look, it’s thrilling and all but it doesn’t take precedence surely?

6.01 Nadal breaks

6.00 Nadal’s first break point.

5.56 Murray missed a sitter of a forehand at 15-30 for two break points. Could be a key moment. But perhaps not. Nadal looks a shadow of his much-vaunted self at the mo.

5.49 Boris Becker: “Another unforced error. I’ve not seen Nadal miss so many return and ground strokes in a long time.”

5.40 No break chances for Nadal in that first set. He only really had a decent spell in Murray’s previous service game.

5.39 Hello. Murray takes the first set in 54 minutes. There is a widely held belief that if Murray is to win this semi, he could not afford to lose that. Good stuff from the Scot but we’ve seen little from the Spaniard.

5.38 Two set points.

5.36 Three break points for Murray

5.35 A sniff for Murray at love-30.

5.31 Murray holds but he had to work for it. Nadal simmering nicely now. He’s just getting everything back. In that last service game, which lasted almost seven minutes, Murray produced a serve of 135mph - the fastest of the tournament. Nadal serving to stay in the set.

5.25 Pressure service game for Murray now.

5.17 Nadal found a gear there, winning his service game to love. Meanwhile, more shameful celeb spotting by the BBC. They are obsessed with it. I won’t mention who it was for fear of being accused of joining in. But it was that dreadfully unfunny female comic who has an eponymous sitcom on the Beeb. Really.

5.13 All still pretty cosy for Murray. Nadal doesn’t look that big a threat at the moment. Certainly he does not look the player who dominated earlier in the tournament.

5.02 Murray waves away the trainer. No treatment required. It’s early days, of course, but the Scot looks in decent nick. better than Nadal in fact, who has made two mistakes on his backhand and looks a little subdued.

5.00 Murray seems to be moving fine. As does Nadal.

4.54 Murray, like Nadal, has come into this match with an injury, or at worst a niggle. He has a problem with his hip flexor. He is in discussion with the trainer now, who suggests leaving it for a few games but if it doesn’t go away “we can take you off court and work on it”. Murray said he had been on painkillers before the match.

4.51 Andy Murray has just called for the trainer.

4.48 Nadal holds. Some empty seats on Centre. Who are these people who can’t get to their seats on time? They must have shelled out a few quid.

4.45 Murray holds to 15. Easy. What’s all the fuss about?

4.43 We’re underway. Murray serving. The consensus on The Times online sports desk is Rafa in four. Sorry, folks.

4.39 Boris Becker’s “instincts” tell us that “Murray will win this match”. Given some of the bother Boris’ instincts have got him into in the past, best not take it too seriously.

4.35 Murray and Nadal are on court, going through their various routines. Most of them seem to involve eating or drinking. It’s not a picnic chaps. While we have to sit through the warm-up, why not read the report of new world No 1 Novak Djokovic’s exciting win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

4.22 Catch your breath. Eat a banana. Scoff some complex carbohydrates. We go again. Just the small matter of Andy Murray v Rafael Nadal.

4.21 Djokovic: “It’s difficult to put it into words. The best feeling I’ve ever had on a tennis court. My dreams are coming true. It’s my first final at Wimbledon. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was four.”

4.19 Anyone would have thought that Djokovic has just won the thing the way he’s celebrating. But that is a mark of the battle Tsonga gave him. It may look cosy in four sets, but the big bear looked as though he might have squeezed the life from the Serb’s challenge in a thrilling third set breaker. Full match report coming up.

4.17 Djokovic wins.

4.16 Two match points

4.13 Here we go folks. Djokovic serving for the match. Now or never for Tsonga.

4.10 Tsonga on the brink. We’ve said that before, of course, but surely Djokovic can’t slip up from here?

4.01 Signs that Tsonga has once again awoken from a mini hibernation. He is a great big bear of a man, too. One senses the majority of this Centre Court crowd would love to give him a hug for the show he has put on here.

3.56 Djokovic has not once served and volleyed in this contest. What an extraordinary shift we’ve seen in tennis over the years. Stefan Edberg wouldn’t last five minutes these days.

3.50 The fourth set begins in the same way as the third: with a Djokovic break.

3.45 Neil Harman tweets: “Having said I don’t think lightning can strike twice. I’m beginning to hear rumbles of thunder in the distance.”

3.44 Djokovic looks furious with himself as he sits on his chair. He had two match points to go to his first Wimbledon final. The momentum is with the Frenchman and Djokovic looks as though he knows it.

3.42 Tsonga makes it third time lucky. He takes the third set in the breaker.

3.41 Djokovic has saved two set points. Tsonga has saved two match points. Thriller.

3.26 We go into the breaker as Tsonga hammers a winner past Djokovic’s back hand to break.

3.24 Here we go again. Three break points for Tsonga.

3.33 And the Serb now breaks, suggesting his loss of the eighth game was a mere blip. Serving for a final spot.

3.18 Djokovic holds with a classy show.

3.14 Djokovic, from nowhere, now serving to stay in the set. Tsonga has just found his rhythm. He looked exhausted but is now as fresh as spring.

3.13 Neil Harman tweets: “I know JWT beat The Fed from two sets down but sorry, I can’t see lightning striking twice.”

3.11 Tsonga’s turned up. He breaks. Much to the delight of the crowd as he orchestrates them in their roar.

3.10 What do we know? Three break points for Tsonga.

3.04 The end is nigh for Tsonga, who looks totally spent. He can’t even get a sniff of a break.

3.00 The sooner this contest is over the better. Greg Rusedski’s insistence on pronouncing Djokovic “JAW-Kovic” is interminable.

2.53 Another unbelievable point. Both players rolling around on the turf exchanging shots before Tsonga, on the volley from a kneeling psoition, just guides it stray of the line. It gives Djokovic the opportunity to break and he takes it.

2.44 A procession of a second set for Djokovic. Tsonga has no answer at the moment. Indeed, he looks a little jaded which suggests the Federer epic took it out of him.

2.40 Tsonga serving to stay in the set

2.34 A double break for Djokovic. It was coming, to be fair. It looks as though Tsonga, for the second consecutive match, will have to come from two sets behind. “He looks weary out there,” John McEnroe says.

2.29 A marked difference between Tsonga’s match against Federer. In that game the Frenchman was able to pin back the Swiss with pure power. This time, the boot is on the other foot. He is Djokovic’s puppet on a string, making him dance from one side of the court to the other.

2.21 The break for Djokovic. Tsonga in a whole lot of trouble.

2.20 Break point for Djokovic

2.16: A game fightback from Djokovic secures the first set.

Liam Broady is into the boys’ finals after his straight sets victory, if you want to read a report, Ed Hawkins has complied a review on the match here

Hawkins will be on hand now to take you through the rest of the afternoon’s play.

2.15: A deft forehand volley from Tsonga keeps him in the game: Djokovic 6-4

2.13: Another limp shot from Tsonga, this time from his backhand, slowly drifts out past the baseline. Djokovic 6-3.

2.11: Tsonga avoids the use of his backhand after a long rally but couldn’t quite get the angle and his limp forehand shot goes into the net. 4-2 Djokovic

2.09: Tsonga shows he can hold it under pressure by serving an ace to take the score to 2-1

2.08: Djokovic goes to official review and gets some help from Hawkeye to go 1-0 up.

2.05pm: Tsonga takes the set for the tiebreak.

2pm: A deft touch from Djokovic takes the speed off Tsonga’s shot and nudges it back over the net to secure his service game. The pressure has shifted from the Serb on to the Frenchman.

1.56: As we just pointed out, Djokovic has been the break master so far this tournament and secures the breakthrough against Tsonga when it matters most. Game on.

1.55: Tsonga gambles but fails. He sends down a 133mph second serve that hits the net to hand advantage to Djokovic.

1.54: The Frenchman is on a roll. Deuce.

1.53: Tsonga deal with the pressure well by saving the first of his three break points with a sensational drop-shot volley. He claws back another straight after, despite Djokovic challenging.

1.52: Liam Broady has won his boys’ semi final 6-4, 6-3.

1.49: Djokovic holds his serve but has a mountain to climb to snatch back the set. Djokovic has won the most breakpoints so far in the tournament though out of any player with 24. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray lag behind on 22 each, while Tsonga is joint six in the men’s list with just 19.

This match is far from over.

1.46: Tsonga has only been broken four times during this Wimbledon, so for Djokovic to get so close, at this point of the game, and not make the breakthrough is a significant psychological filip for Tsonga. Can Djokovic deal with that setback and come back and win the set?

1.44: The pressure is clearly on Djokovic, too, as at 40-15 to break, he misses an easy forehand that just creeps into the tramlines.

1.44: Tsonga’s inexperience is beginning to show. He sent back a blocked backhand to Djokovic who greedily returned a thunderous forehand to take the game to 0-30.

1.40: In contrast to Djokovic, Tsonga is moving really well around the court. He’s served and volleyed, he’s hit the thundering forehands and more importantly perhaps he’s used his backhand to good effect. That volley exchange, however, saw him get back up off his knees, in between shots, and hit a winner.

“I’d probably break my wrist trying to get up from that position,” quips John McEnroe.

1.36: Tsonga laps up the crowd’s applause. A thrilling volley exchange between the two players at the net sees the Frenchman prevail. Tsonga strolls back to the baseline with his hands held aloft to rapturous cheer. He’s growing in confidence. 4-2.

1.35: Djokovic whips a forehand over the net so quickly that Tsonga could not see it - he looked perplexed as the ball whistled past him. 30-30.

1.33: As we all now know, Tsonga beat Rafael Nadal at Queen’s in the semi- final to progress to face Andy Murray. This is now the first time in seven years since Andy Roddick and Sebastien Grosjean duelled in Baron’s Court that both finalists at Queen’s are in the semi final at Wimbledon.

1.31: Djokovic holds his serve to take the score to 3-2. The Serb is still not settled and is not moving well around the court.

1.26: Lord Sugar is not one to hide his opinion from anyone. The businessman has come straight out of the blocks and proclaimed Tsonga as the next men’s Wimbledon champion, after the Frenchman broke Djokovic:

“First break to Tsonga against DJokovic now 2 up could he be the surprise winner of Wimbledon. Early days.”

Tsonga now leads 3-1, with Djokovic to serve.

1.25: A quick glance at the Broady game shows that the British teenager has hit his straps after securing the comfort blanket of the first set. He leads 4-1 in the second set. As an FYI, he’s wearing those pink Bjorn Borg pants again. Do you think it is a different pair? Who did his washing? Back to the men’s semi final, eh?

1.23: An edgy first few games. Tsonga saved a break point against Djokovic just then but the pressure was getting to him as he missed consecutive first serves at deuce. The Serb in turn made several unforced errors which then let off Tsonga.

1.18: Djokovic fights back an immediately puts pressure on Tsonga with the score at deuce on Tsonga’s serve.

1.15: A wonderfully athletic volley put Tsonga on to advantage and then Djokovic slapped a forehand too deep for the Frenchman to take the first game. Tsonga did say he was going to be aggressive, didn’t he?

1.14: The Serb looks a bit loose and hit a dreadful forehand to the tram lines to allow Tsonga back in the game. He then hit a drop shot straight into the net to take the score to deuce.

1.13: The humidity has gone out of the air on Centre Court and there is no wind at all.

Tsonga has clearly started as he means to go on and has taken two points of Djokovic already.

1.08: Just before we start the first men’s semi final, Liam Broady has just secured the first set in his match against Jason Kuber 6-4.

1.05: John McEnroe highlights that Novak Djokovic is a fitter, better player than when he lost to Tsonga in five sets last time at the Australian Open in 2010.

“Novak has changed something. He’s a better player just now. Maybe it is his diet but he just looks fitter,” said the American.

1pm: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is such a relaxed guy, but when he beat six-times champion Roger Federer earlier this week the exuberance he displayed in that now-famous victory dance was a joy to behold.

Tsonga has just outlined where the dance originated from.

“The first time I entered the top 100 I won at Queen’s and beat Lleyton Hewitt. It was just a dream to enter the top 100. I did that dance then, and the English crowd liked it so I’ve just kept doing it.”

Tsonga just walked out on court with Djokovic, and was quick to highlight that he was in no mood to back down against the No. 2 seed.

“He has had a big year. He has played unbelievable and he is number two in the world,” he said. “I will be aggressive and focus and will take the game to him.”

12.55: Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are about to come on to Centre Court. Such is Murray mania that there are only about half of the 15,000 capacity watching. Shame. Perhaps they will all make a late run after their strawberries and cream?

12.50: Broady had to save two break points and there were some compelling rallies between the two players. Kubler looks to have found his rhythm though, and it could be a tough afternoon for the British teenager.

12.44: While we are still on the subject of serving, Broady’s serve is letting him down. He is currently serving at a 50 per cent strike-rate on his first serve, which is why the Australian has managed to get a foothold in the game. Kubler defends quite well, and manages to return quite effectively.

12.43: Kubler held his serve there, too, and his serve is faster than Broady’s. Kubler just sent one down at 113mph, which is the same speed as the fastest serve this week of Petra Kvitova, the women’s finalist.

12.38: Never write off an Aussie, as so many sportsmen from so many countries might say. Kubler, the youngster from Brisbane, has dug deep and has found some real fighting spirit to break back. Broady looked a little lost during that game.

12.35: As reported earlier the crowd on Henman Hill/Murray Mount/Bates Bump is vast. The support afforded Murray is incredible as an impromtu guard of honour was formed by the crowd for the Scot as he went to the practice courts.

12.31: Professional sportsmen find it very hard to let things go. Will Carling, the former England rugby captain, probably will never get over the victory of Scotland in the Five Nations over his side at Murrayfield in 1990. For younger readers, who might not remember the occasion, see here

So it is easy to see why Carling is struggling to warm to Andy Murray, Scotland’s finest tennis player.

“So Murray V Nadal - trying very hard to warm to Murray.........let’s see if Nadal’s injury holds up (somehow think it will !!),” Carling just tweeted.

12.33: It’s looking ominously easy for Broady as he goes 4-1 up.

12.30: Broady gets an early break with a whipping forehand to serve 3-1 ahead.

12.26: Broady secures his second game with an ace, winning to love. His serve speed is impressive for a 17-year-old, registering at 107mph, roughly equal to Marion Bartoli, whose fastest this week was 110pm. That’s 177kph for you Continental readers.

12.25: Kubler replies by making it 1-1.

12.20: Liam Broady opens his account by taking the first game on serve against Jason Kubler.

12.20: The big screen on Henman Hill (apologies to those who like to call it Murray Mount, or even, perhaps, Bates bump?) has just screened the message, “When you leave the grounds for the last time please have your ticket scanned which can then be re-sold for charity.”

Henman Hill is rammed already, and with Murray v Nadal on Centre Court after the Nadal v Djokovic clash, it is hard to envisage charities receiving much money from handed in tickets.

12.10: I touched on the betting markets a moment ago, and it seems as if Neil Harman, our tennis correspondent, has been circling the bookmakers.

The oddsmakers quote that there will be 40 games in the match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic, who are on court in less than an hour.

The bookmakers offer the bet over and under 40 games, but Mr Harman is clearly an overs man.

“I am making no predictions today other than that neither semi final today will be straight sets,” he just tweeted.

Midday: As Liam Broady comes onto Court No 3, we turn our thoughts to the first of the men’s semi finals.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dispatched Roger Federer earlier this week. He beat Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the AEGON championships at the Queen’s club earlier this month. And yet, Novak Djokovic, who has never won a title on grass, is the overwhelming favourite going into to today’s first match on Centre Court.

If the bookmakers are to be believed, Djokovic has about a 70 per cent chance of beating the young Frenchman, who will be the first of his compatriots to reach to the final since Cedric Pioline 14 years ago.

Since April Tsonga has not had a coach, a tactic used by Roger Federer, and yet his stats so far this tournament have been first class, according to the ATP.

Tsonga has beaten Djokovic five times, although all seven of their matches have taken place on hard courts.

Tsonga has hit more winners than any of the other three men’s semi-finalists hitting 253 winners compared to the Serb, who has hit only 165.

Tsonga’s serve has been equally impressive and he has sent down 96 aces and his fastest serve speed dwarfs that of his opponent 134mph to 127mph. It’s like tennis Top Trumps, really isn’t it?

11.50am: The reason for all of this pants talk is that Liam Broady was wearing a pink pair of Bjorn Borg’s new range yesterday, see the picture above. Tenuous, perhaps, but Broady is about to step out on Court No. 3. What colour will he have on today?

11.45am: It has been 30 years since the last Wimbledon final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.

‘Fire and Ice’ clashed twice in the final at SW19 in 1980 and 1981 with Borg winning first and McEnroe in ‘81.

The two have been out and about around Wimbledon this morning, promoting a new line of underwear to commorate the rivalry, which, incidentally, Borg won 9-7.

The collection of underwear will focus on the Golden Age of tennis in the Eighties, and will consist of 100 pieces of men’s underwear emblazoned with the signatures of the two greats. The long-time rivals will design two items each for the line, which will be available across 17 countries as well as Borg’s site.

“I loved the idea as soon as I heard it. It’s an opportunity to once again team up with John and beat him on new grounds,” joked Björn Borg.

11.30am: The rise of the left-hander has been well documented after Petra Kvitova made tomorrow’s women’s final against Maria Sharapova and Nadal is on the threshold of his fifth Wimbledon final.

Kvitova was just four months old when Martina Naratilova became the last leftie to win the women’s tournament in 1990 but the tradition is being kept alive by young Briton Liam Broady.

Broady had the full support of the Wimbledon crowd yesterday against Robin Kern, of Germany. That he defeated Kern in enthralling style, 7-6, 4-6, 13-11 made it all the more fascinating for the SW19 fan club.

Broady bids to become the first British boy to win the junior tournament in almost 50 years after Stanley Matthews, son of the knighted footballer, triumphed in 1962, also aged 17.

Broady won last year’s boys’ doubles with fellow Brit Tom Farquarson so has the right pedigree. He takes to court No 3 in half an hour.

11.05am: We’ve left the best until last. Neil Harman, The Times tennis correspondent, and David Felgate, the former coach to Tim Henman, have dissected both Murray and Nadal’s games down to the nth degree. Harman focuses on Nadal’s serve, his perceived weakness, while Felgate looks at Murray’s backhand as an early indicator as to his chances against the world’s best player.

10.50am: Ever wondered who the sea of faces are in Andy Murray’s box that shout and cheer when he wins and agonise when he loses? You all probably know what Judy Murray, Andy’s mother, looks like, and probably Kim Sears, his girlfriend, too, but what about Andy Ireland, his physio? For a run down on TEAM MURRAY, read Ben Smith’s introduction here. Alongside the article on a tab is a video on why Murray can finally land his maiden victory against Nadal on grass.

10.45am: Simon Barnes, our chief sports writer, reports that Andy Murray believes he can beat Rafael Nadal. Murray trails the world No 1 11-4 in the head to heads, but Barnes charts the glorious failures of past British men to make the final and emerges with the result that Murray has got what it takes. Read his thoughts here