- British number one beat Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in four sets
- Murray, 26, lost the first set 7-6 but won the second set 6-4
- Murray went a break down in the third set but came back to take it 6-4
- Play stopped was while roof was put on after Pole complained about light
- Murray said decision was 'not fair' and that complaints were 'mad'
- But he came back to take the fourth set 6-3
- Murray will play number one seed Djokovic in Sunday's final
A loser in last year’s final, the British Number 1 will have a second chance tomorrow after last night’s tense win over Jerzy Janowicz of Poland.
The entire nation will be urging him on to be the first home player to lift the men’s singles trophy since Fred Perry in 1936.
Murray booked his final berth against top seed Novak Djokovic in an occasionally bad-tempered and controversial match that finished at 9.35pm.
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Victory: Andy Murray celebrates defeating Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in the Wimbledon semi-final
Gracious: Janowicz and Murray shake hands despite both getting frustrated earlier in the match about the roof
Knocked out: The 22-year-old Pole was defeated by Murray in four sets
Team Murray: The tennis player's girlfriend Kim Sears, friend Ross Hutchins, and fitness coaches Danny Vallverdu, Jez Green, Matt Little and Andy Ireland celebrate his win
Under the roof: Murray faced Jerzy Janowic under cover after the Pole controversially complained about the light during the third set
Debate: Murray asked the referee why the roof was being put on while it was still light
Frustration: Murray reportedly said that the decision to close the roof and interrupt play was 'not fair'
Comeback: Murray had just won the third set when play was stopped for the roof to be put on
Pause: Play was stopped so that the roof could be put onto Centre Court
He's done it! Kim Sears claps and clenches her fist in triumph as her boyfriend secures his place in the final
Celebration: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears leaps to her feet as he wins the match
At the end of the third set, with all the momentum in Murray’s favour, referee Andrew Jarrett decided to close the roof over Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
The decision, which came after constant pleading by Janowicz as the match was slipping away from him, brought a furious response from Murray.
He angrily told Mr Jarrett: ‘He’s been complaining about it for the last 40 minutes. It’s ridiculous. This is an outdoor tournament, I don’t understand these rules.
‘This is not fair. How long has he been complaining about the darkness? It’s not even dark, it’s completely light.’
Janowicz was jeered by the crowd as he left the court for the 20-minute break in play.
The 22-year-old had already been booed after smashing his tennis racquet on the net when losing a point in the third set, and was also involved in furious finger-wagging at his opponent.
Wince: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears looked on as he conceded a point
Emotional: Judy Murray appeared to pray as her son was on match point, while girlfriend Kim shouted encouragement from the stands after he went a set down at the start of the match
Yes! Murray's girlfriend was jubilant as he won a point against the Pole
Family: Murray's mother Judy and brother Jamie were there to cheer the 26-year-old on
Tomorrow he will hope to go one step further than last year where he was tearfully defeated by Roger Federer.
ANDY'S FRIEND IS FIGHTING AN EVEN TOUGHER OPPONENT
Andy Murray’s close friend Ross Hutchins, a fellow tennis player who is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was among his most loyal and vociferous supporters at Centre Court.
Sat behind the tennis ace’s girlfriend, Kim Sears, the 28-year-old cheered Murray throughout the game, pumping his fist when he won crucial points.
Hutchins has told how much former doubles partner Murray’s support has meant to him throughout his battle with cancer.
Last month, Murray donated his £73,000 prize money from winning the AEGON Championships at Queen’s to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which has been treating Hutchins.
Hutchins said: ‘I’ve been close with Andy for 15 years, or something.
‘He’s been very supportive for me. He’s been like a rock. He’s one of my closest friends.’
Sat behind the tennis ace’s girlfriend, Kim Sears, the 28-year-old cheered Murray throughout the game, pumping his fist when he won crucial points.
Hutchins has told how much former doubles partner Murray’s support has meant to him throughout his battle with cancer.
Last month, Murray donated his £73,000 prize money from winning the AEGON Championships at Queen’s to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which has been treating Hutchins.
Hutchins said: ‘I’ve been close with Andy for 15 years, or something.
‘He’s been very supportive for me. He’s been like a rock. He’s one of my closest friends.’
'I don't care,' he said. 'What I can do? I care about myself. I don't care if he was angry or not.'
Asked what he said to the Scot following the clash, he replied: 'I don't feel like losing against runner-up, so I wish him good luck.'
Pippa Middleton was among the 15,000 fans anxiously cheering Murray on in the packed Centre Court along with his girlfriend Kim Sears and mother Judy.
Away from the court, another 4,000 climbed Murray Mount to watch the match on a big screen.
Many took up positions hours before the clash after sprinting to find a spot on the steep bank as they arrived at the grounds. Barely an inch of grass was visible by 11am.
The Prime Minister offered his support ahead of his semi-final meeting. David Cameron, who has been accused of jinxing players with his messages of encouragement, tweeted: ‘Fingers crossed for @Andy-Murray at Wimbledon.’
Earlier this week he wished British women’s number one Laura Robson luck before she bowed out of the grand slam.
A win in tomorrow’s final could land Murray sponsorship deals worth up to £20million a year.
Nigel Currie, director of sports marketing agency brandRapport, said: ‘Federer is on the wane and there are concerns over Rafa Nadal’s knee so Andy has a real chance to establish himself as number one or two in the world.
‘Sponsors are always looking ahead and Djokovic and Andy could be the big battle for the next few years and if you are in that position in a sport like tennis, one that reaches every corner of the world, you will be a target for the big global brands.
‘Andy can expect them all to come calling if he wins Wimbledon – the big one for him. And that only strengthens his hand in negotiating.
Semi-final: Murray and Janowicz appeared fairly evenly matched in the first set
Battle: Andy Murray (left) serves against Jerzy Janowicz (right) of Poland, who won the first set 7-6
Knocked out: The 22-year-old Pole was defeated by Murray in four sets
Action: Murray went a break down in the third set but came back to win the match
Watching: Kim Sears looked on as her boyfriend battled for a place in the Wimbledon final
Girlfriends: Kim Sears (left) walks to Centre Court ahead of the semi-final while Janowicz's glamorous girlfriend Marta Damochowska (right) was looking relaxed as she strolled around Wimbledon earlier
Support: James Corden cracks a joke with Andy Murray's mother Judy ahead of his big game
Speaking as he came off court, Murray said: 'I'm obviously delighted with that. Very tough match today, completely different to any of the matches I've played so far.
'He's a very talented player, very unpredictable. He had some huge serves out there and gave me very little rhythm. It was very hard out there today. I'm glad to get it done.'
Murray admitted the first set 'was a hard one to lose' but that he 'managed to turn it around'.
At the end of his third set, just before the roof was closed, the Scot said he had built up great momentum.
He said of the controversial decision to shut the roof: 'It's a tough situation because there's probably about 45 minutes of light left. I like to think this is an outdoor event and you try to play as much outdoors as you can.'
Gasp: Pippa Middleton and her banker boyfriend Nico Jackson seemed on the edge of their seats as Murray battled Janowicz
Tense: Murray lost the first set but came back to win the second set 6-4
Comparing notes: Nico Jackson leaned in to speak to girlfriend Pippa Middleton
Tennis fans: James Corden and his wife Julia Carey arrive at Wimbledon to watch the semi-final action
Out in the sunshine: Louise Redknapp (right) and James Corden and his wife were dressed for the weather
Celebrity friends: James Corden and his wife Julia were among those cheering Murray on
Up for the fight: Boxing hero Amir Khan was courtside to cheer on Andy Murray later
Spotted: Actor Jude Law was among the celebrities invited to Centre Court for day eleven of Wimbledon
Royal visitors: Prince Andrew (centre) with chairman of the All England Club Philip Brook (right) in the Royal Box on Centre Court
Applause: Princess Michael of Kent and Lady Annabel Goldsmith watch the semi-final between Djokovic and Del Potro
Star attraction: Actor Bradley Cooper and his model girlfriend Suki Waterhouse were at Wimbledon for the day
Cheering on: Tamara Ecclestone and Jay Rutland seemed thrilled to be at Wimbledon
Smash hit: Editor of Vogue Anna Wintour (centre) sits in the royal box on Centre Court
Sharing a joke: Jude Law (far left) and Simon Hammerstein chat to Vogue editor Anna Wintour in the Royal Box
Former number one: Lindsay Davenport sits in the Royal Box ahead of today's matches
VIPs: Celebrities packed the Royal Box for the men's singles semi-finals, including Prince Andrew, Princess Michael of Kent, actor Jude Law, boxer Amir Khan, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and All England Club chairman Philip Brook
Money man: Former Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, was also in the Royal Box
OVER-THE-TOP CORDEN COPS A FEW VOLLEYS
James Corden gets into the spirit of Wimbledon
The chubby comedian, who is good friends with Murray, constantly jumped up and shouted during the match, pumping his fist in the air.
Christopher Jones wrote: ‘Note to James Corden: when you react the same way to every shot it suggests you only react the way you do because there’s a camera nearby.’
Corden’s fellow comedian Frankie Boyle joked: ‘All I’m saying is at 100mph, a tennis ball to the heart would kill James Corden and the whole country would pretend to have seen nothing.’
BBC presenter Gary Lineker caused controversy by tweeting: ‘Maybe if James Corden left the arena there would be much more light.’
Murray used the 20-minute break to have a shower and refocus - and added that Janowicz took the time to call a friend.
'He was on his phone,' said Murray. 'He was calling someone. He seemed very, very relaxed - he's in the semis at Wimbledon - but that's the kind of player he is.'
Speaking about his win, he added: ‘It’s very different to last year. You know, this year’s been a little bit different for me because there’s a lot of expectation.
‘I was maybe almost expected to get in to the final this year from early on in the tournament.
‘Last year when I got into the semi I was very, very emotional. Today I was just delighted to come through and get another chance to play a Wimbledon final.’
He predicted the final would be a tough match, adding that his friend Djokovic had played an ‘incredible’ semi-final.
Earlier on Centre Court Djokovic and Del Potro set a record for the longest semi-final ever played at Wimbledon - four hours 43 minutes.
Djokovic took the first set 7-5, lost the next 4-6 and won the third on a tiebreak before eighth-seeded Argentine Del Potro saved two match points en route to claiming the fourth set tiebreak.
Neither man had previously dropped a set in this year's tournament and Djokovic prevailed 6-3 in the decider.
The previous semi-final record of four hours, one minute was set in 1989 when Boris Becker beat Ivan Lendl in five sets.
The new mark is six minutes shy of the longest Wimbledon final, Rafa Nadal's four hour, 48 minute victory over Roger Federer in 2008, but remains way adrift of the tournament's longest match.
That was the 11 hour, five minute first-round epic between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010 which Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set.
Flying the flag: A group of patriotic fans were among those anxiously waiting on Murray Mount for the day's big match
Tall order: Temperatures soared to 29 degrees as Murray and Janowicz slogged it out on Centre Court
Flower of Scotland: Female fans show their colours in the sunshine on Murray Mount
Tension mounts: Thousands of spectators are watched another tense contest at Wimbledon today
Hot spot: Tennis fans race to get a a place on Murray Mount ahead of his semi-final at Wimbledon
Fingers crossed: The nation will hold its breath again as Murray bids to win the Wimbledon final on Sunday
Support: The stage is set for a marvellous super Sunday in Britain
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