Fan Fever as Murray Reaches Semi's

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Andy Murray reached his fourth straight Wimbledon semi-final after a hard-fought 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 7-6 (7/4) victory over David Ferrer.

The world number four needed three hours and 52 minutes to complete the victory over the seventh-seeded Spaniard, who threatened an upset when the home favourite went a set and a break down.

But Murray hit back by breaking when Ferrer served for the second set, before battling his way through a thrilling tie-break to level the contest.

From that point on the momentum was with Murray and he closed out the victory confidently despite having to briefly leave the court due to a rain delay at 5-5 in the fourth set.

Murray will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last four as he tries to become the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final since 1938.

In-form Spaniard Ferrer made a brilliant start, winning the first five points and then forcing Murray to save two break points before eventually drawing first blood to go 3-1 up in the first set.

Ferrer kept his nose in front until he served for the set at 5-3, when Murray stepped his return game up a gear and saved one set point before breaking back courtesy of a great backhand pass.

In the tie-break Ferrer won four straight points after going 2-0 down and wrapped up the set when Murray found the net twice in succession.

Murray was forced to save three break points in the seventh game of the second set but finally gave in next time around as Ferrer gained the advantage again when his opponent miscued a drop

That left the 30-year-old serving for the set but for the first time he wobbled, a series of errors allowing his rival to level at 5-5 and then take the set into a tie-break.

Ferrer again took control in the breaker as he went 5-2 up, but Murray hit back, saving a set point in the process, and then took his own set-point chance after a brutal rally.

There was still plenty of work to do, however, and Ferrer had the first chance of the third set when he forced two break points in the fourth game, but Murray managed to stave off the threat.

A strong backhand then allowed Murray to break and go 5-4 up, with the three-time grand slam finalist holding his nerve to serve out the set.

The fourth set took on a similar pattern as the Scot saved break points in the eighth game - making it 10 saved from 12 faced - before his opponent did the same.

There was a brief rain delay shortly before their third tie-break, which saw Murray set up match point with a forehand down the line and then seal the win with his 18th ace of the match.