Tsonga fight-back slows Murray bid (From Hereford Times)

Tsonga fight-back slows Murray bid

6:12pm Friday 6th July 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put the brakes on Andy Murray's campaign to get to the Wimbledon final, winning the third set of their semi-final match.

Murray took the first two sets, but Tsonga fought back to win the third 6-3.

The pair are fighting for a place in Sunday's final - if Murray wins, he will be the first British man in a Wimbledon final since Henry "Bunny" Austin 74 years ago.

The Scot powered to a 6-3 win in the first set, and won the second set 6-4, but Tsonga battled back in the third set. At one moment he was left injured when a ball hit him in his groin, leaving him kneeling on the court in pain.

The match was watched on Centre Court by crowds including pop star Kylie Minogue in the Royal Box.

If he wins, Murray will face six-time champion Roger Federer in the final, after his 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 win over world number one Novak Djokovic, meaning he has reached a record Wimbledon finals. The Swiss star said he would love to play Murray in Sunday's final.

Murray, in his fourth SW19 semi-final in a row, is favourite to win the match against fifth seed Tsonga, whom he has beaten five times in six matches.

The British number one was cheered on by his usual supporters in the players' box, including mother Judy Murray, father Will Murray, and girlfriend Kim Sears.

Kylie was with boyfriend Andres Velencoso in the Royal Box, joined by Sir David Frost, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and former Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Rod Laver. The Duke of York was also present, as was Princess Michael of Kent and Lady Annabel Goldsmith.

Murray, in his seventh Wimbledon, is hoping to become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry 76 years ago.