Murray builds momentum with brutal victory

By Kevin Fylan

LONDON (Reuters) - A brutal five-game assault from Andy Murray broke Juan Carlos Ferrero in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday, and showed there is substance to the Scot''s claims to be a grand slam champion in waiting.

There was scarcely any doubt that Murray would prevail against a man seven years his senior and ranked 70 in the world, but the ruthless way he demonstrated his superiority was significant.

Murray''s performance in reaching the semi-finals with a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win on Center Court, particularly in the 10 minutes it took for him to come from 3-1 down to clinch the second set, simply overwhelmed the wildcard Ferrero.

It took the 22-year-old Scot through to the semi-finals of his ''home'' grand slam for the first time.

It was the sort of no-nonsense performance he needed after that frantic five-setter against Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday, when he thrilled the crowds under the Center Court roof but pushed his body unnecessarily hard.

"If I''d had another five setter, you know, it''s tough to recover," Murray said. "But I was only on for about an hour and a half, an hour and 45 today, so it''s not going to take anything out of me physically, and I should be a hundred percent for the next match."

On Wednesday, he played with the air of a man keen on a quick ice-bath, a leisurely dinner and an early night.

Or at least, that is how he ended the match.

At the start, he flirted with the trap Ferrero set for him, as the Spaniard kept him involved in a series of long rallies.

"I was in control in the first set," said Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion who has taken a liking to grass.

"But it was hard to read his serve. When you can take two or three easy points on every game it''s very hard to lose."

Ferrero at times bamboozled the Scot with half-court shots and a few surprising angles.

Perhaps it was the curiously subdued atmosphere, and the rows of empty seats as the match began, but Murray struggled for rhythm, although his serve kept him out of any trouble.

Just when the set was heading for a tiebreak Ferrero handed it to Murray with a double fault on break point.

Ferrero broke Murray at the start of the second before the Scot, serving at deuce and 1-3 down, unleashed his best tennis.  Continued...