Andy Murray cruised into the final of the 2009 Aegon Championships at Queens Club with a 6-2 6-4 win over Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.
The British number 1 was in dominating form in the first set and broke Ferrero in the opening game of the match as he raced to the first set. Ferrero did up his game in the second set and Murray was not quite as dominant but he secured the decisive break in game seven after an unforced error from the former world number one.
Murray is the first British player to reach the final since Tim Henman in 2002. Henman reached the final three times in four years, losing the first to America’s Pete Sampras in 1999, before Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt defeated him in consecutive years. No British player has won the title in the open era and no British player has won at Queens since Bunny Austin in 1938.
Murray spoke to reporters after the match,
It was a good match, I served very well in the first set and I was happy to win it in two as it was hotter out there than on other days this week. I’ve not had the easiest draw, but I’m lucky I’ve played well from the start of the week. It’s been a good week so far and I hope that will continue on Sunday.
Murray will face the winner of the other semi final between James Blake and Andy Roddick.
| 2009 Queens Club AEGON Championships – Semi Final Draw | ||
| [1] Andy Murray (GBR) | vs | Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) |
| [6] James Blake (USA) | vs | [2] Andy Roddick (USA) |
Andy Murray takes on former world number 1 and grand slam winner Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semi finals of the 2009 AEGON championship at Queens Club today(13th June 2009). The match will first up on Centre Court and play is sheduled to being at 1pm. The match will screened live on BBC 2, BBC Interactive (red button and online) and Eurosport. So no excuses for missing it!
Murray is bidding to be the first British player to win at Queens Club in the open era, standing in his way today is Juan Carlos Ferrero. Juan Carlos Ferrero, 29 from Onteniente, Spain, is a former world number 1, he held that rank back in 2003 for 8 weeks, the same year he won the French Open and reached the US Open final.
Since those results though, Ferrero has never produced the same level of performance. He had not won a title since 2003 until earlier this when he claim the ATP 250 event in Casablanca in April. As with many players, once they reach the top it’s very difficult to stay there. Ferrero has invested more time in off court activities since 2003 and most people think the lack of focus on tennis is the reason for his slip. He is currently ranked 90 in the world.
Even though Juan Carlos Ferrero has been on tour for over 10 years and been at the pinnacle of the game, this is Spaniards first grass court semifinal of his illustrious career.
This will be the first ever match between Andy Murray and Juan Carlos Ferrero. Murray, who has been in sublime form this week, is one step from becoming the first British finalist at Queens since Tim Henman in 2002. Because of the form he has shown, the odds you will get on a Murray win are very small.
| Player | Andrew Murray | Juan Carlos Ferrero | ||
| Traditional Odds | Decimal Odds | Traditional Odds | Decimal Odds | |
| Betfair | 2/25 | 1.08 | 12/1 | 13 |
| Bet Fred | 2/25 | 1.08 | 6/1 | 7 |
| William Hill | 2/25 | 1.08 | 6/1 | 7 |
| Blue Square | 7/100 | 1.07 | 13/2 | 7.5 |
| Expekt.com | 7/100 | 1.07 | 73/10 | 8.3 |
| Ladbrokes | 3/50 | 1.06 | 7/1 | 8 |
| Coral | 3/50 | 1.06 | 7/1 | 8 |
| Sky Bet | 3/50 | 1.06 | 8/1 | 9 |
| Bet 365 | 1/20 | 1.05 | 8/1 | 9 |
| Paddy Power | 1/20 | 1.05 | 15/2 | 8.5 |
In other Semi final it’s a battle of the Americans, 6th seed James Blake takes on 2nd seed Andy Roddick. The 4 time champion Andy Roddick is the bookmakers favorite.
| Player | Andy Roddick | James Blake | ||
| Traditional Odds | Decimal Odds | Traditional Odds | Decimal Odds | |
| Betfair | 1/3 | 1.33 | 3/1 | 4 |
| William Hill | 1/3 | 1.33 | 9/4 | 3.25 |
| Ladbrokes | 3/10 | 1.3 | 12/5 | 3.4 |
| Expekt.com | 3/10 | 1.3 | 51/20 | 3.55 |
| Bet Fred | 29/100 | 1.29 | 5/2 | 3.5 |
| Bet 365 | 7/25 | 1.28 | 5/2 | 3.5 |
| Blue Square | 1/4 | 1.25 | 11/4 | 3.75 |
| Stan James | 11/50 | 1.22 | 3/1 | 4 |
| SportingBet | 1/5 | 1.2 | 3/1 | 4 |
I predict a Roddck v Murray final – And theyll both win in straight sets.
Murray should win on Sunday as well.
I think Blake might just surprise Roddick today, he’s actually looked good this week and he’s better on return than Roddick, os as long as he can hold serve I think he will do it.
Would like to see a Blake Murray final – Blake has won their only previous match.
I think Murray will still win the title as well.
Did anyone see the insanely posh people interviewed at Queens just before Murray’s match, that was really funny!
They were members of the club John Inverdale interviewed. Tickets at £85 a seat there was not much entertainment today. A best of 5 set could be possible especially on a grass court for the seems and final.
Again the BBC fall short, why not cover the doubles instead of a repeat of the Indoor ceremony. The BBC really turn promising reporters into clones, what ever happened to that fiery boy called Andrew Castle he is turning into a ‘Queen Mother’ oh sorry that is Sue Barker, Andrew is her poodle. At Wimbledon we have to put up with Tim in the box with him. All sycophants. I suppose the fee they get is more important than an honest opinion
Thank goodness we have a Scotsman with an accent to relate to.
Next time the BBC interview a fan, they really need to do better job – I was half expecting the toff kid to say “yes i support Andrew Murray, his accent is the same as the butlers!”
The biggest problem with the British game is that Tennis is perceived as an upper class sport and it does not attract enough kids to the sport. Guys like Andy Murray are slowly changing that image, but people at home watching the game need to relate to sport, if they cannot do that the parents won’t encourage their kids to particate.