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Wimbledon blog: Nadal wins big, will face Djokovic

By Tom Weir, USA TODAY

We are live blogging the men's semifinals at Wimbledon today, starting at 8 a.m ET.

In the first match Novak Djokovic defeated No. 12 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in four sets.

Now comes the match that will make the home crowd hold its collective breath: Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal vs. Great Britain's No. 4 seed, Andy Murray.

Djokovic will be in a curious situation. Do you pull for Andy Murray to win and then face the greatest homecourt advantage in Wimbledon history or root for Rafael Nadal, arguably the greatest player in the game today?

2:42: Rafael Nadal will be defending his Wimbledon title on Sunday. He closes it out with three quick points to get to triple match point, yields one Murray score and then drills a winner deep into the corner. The Match is his, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

2:37: Murray holds, barely, to at least force Nadal to serve for the match. The game went to deuce twice, and Murray fought off one match point while also getting his 14th and 15th aces.

2:32: Murray can't even begin to launch a campaign for a break point as Nadal serves up a love game to go ahead 5-3 in the fourth. Seems like the end will be hear any minute now.

2:28: Murray holds to make it 4-3, but Nadal's lone point in the game was a perfect demonstration of how he never stops battling. Murray failed to put much on what looked like an easy winner, and Nadal sprinted cross-court to scoop it out, and then snapped his wrist to flick a winner of his own.

2:24: Nadal holds for a 4-2 lead in the fourth. Nadal scored with one deft drop shot, and then Murray muffed a drop attempt on the next point. Nadal has committed only one unforced error in the set, while Murray has been guilty of 8.

2:19: Murray holds and is still in it, down 3-2 in the fourth. But he needs a break soon.

2:16: Murray can't convert on either of two break points, but he makes Nadal work for the hold, getting to deuce three times. Nadal remains up a break in the fourth, 3-1. That was probably Murray's best effort in the last hour.

2:06: Murray holds for 2-1, but in some ways it really was Nadal's game. Murray was up 40-15 but double-faulted twice to go to deuce. On the advantage point Nadal went sliding on his tail along the baseline, but skidded with grace as he flipped his racket into the air with his left hand and caught it with his right.

2:00: Nadal holds easily and leads the fourth set 2-0. He has committed only 6 unforced errors to Murray's 26.

1:56: Horrible start to the fourth set for Murray as he gets broken at 15-40. On one point Murray had Nadal running side to side, but the Spaniard made two great saves and then fired a forehand winner down the left side to steal it.

1:50: Nadal holds and now leads 2-1 on sets. He gave up only five service points in the third set. Murray is hitting some good shots, but Nadal is playing Steel Curtain defense.

1:45: Nadal gets a second break in the third set, digging a cross-court winner out from deep in the corner for the clincher. Nadal now serves for the set, up 5-2.

1:41: Nadal cranks up his serve and holds easily while firing his third, fourth and fifth aces of the match. He gives up one point on an unforced error, his first since the end of the first set.

1:36: Good hold for Murray. He set up game point with a great save of a deep ball into the corner, running and stretched out all the way. Nadal still up a break at 3-2 in the third.

1:32: Nadal again yields only one point while holding. Up 3-1 in the third.

1:28: Murray regroups and closes out a love service game with his 11th ace.

1:25: Nadal, cruising, gives up just one point on serve for a 2-0 lead in the third.

1:21: Nadal grabs the early lead in the third, getting the break. Murray set up double-break-point with a double fault, battled back to deuce but then went wide twice. Murray's body language doesn't look good right now, and on NBC John McEnroe is suggesting Murray should call out the trainer.

1:13: Nadal closes out the second set, 6-2. It's one set apiece, but it feels like Nadal is leading after he hits a couple of sizzling volleys cross-court.

1:09: All of that early Murray momentum is long gone. He nets consecutive backhands to give Nadal a second break. Nadal, up 5-2, will serve for the set.

1:05: Nadal looks like he's ramped it up a bit. Murray breaks a string in his racket and there's a break as he fetches a new one, down 0-40. Then Nadal closes it out and leads 4-2.

1:01: Murray double faults to give Nadal a break-point chance, and then the Brit has a comfortable smash but whacks it long. Nadal gets the break and leads the second set 3-2.

12:57: Nadal gets behind on serve after a big cross-court winner from Murray but battles back to hold and even the second set at 2-2.

12:51: Murray gets his ace count up to 8 as he holds for 2-1 in the second. His serve has been spot on so far.

12:49: Murray get the Brit crowd roaring with a big backhand winner to start the game, but Nadal rattles off four straight points to make it 1-1 in the second.

12:44: Murray is rolling in the second serve, and closes out the opening game with an ace. He's won on 62% of his second serves so far.

12:39: Murray breaks Nadal's serve at 15-40 and wins the set 7-5. It's the first time Murray has won a set against Nadal at Wimbledon. Nadal's backhand into the net ended it. Nadal leaves the court right after.

12:30: At second deuce. But Murray takes next two points and a 6-5 lead. Nadal is serving.

12:26: The duo is 40-40 on Murray's serve. Is this the first break?

12:24: Nadal makes it 5-5 in the first set. Neither player has even been in danger of losing his serve.

12:20: Nadal on his foot injury: "The foot is not fine" but playing in Wimbledon is an "emergency. I had to play." Certainly if he's been slowed down by the foot it is not apparent to the naked eye.

12:18: This is looking like a tie-breaker. Murray takes every point on his serve to take a 5-4 lead. These guys are masterful on the line and neither has come up with satisfactory answers for the other's vicious ground strokes.

12:15: Nadal evens it up 4-4 without giving up a point. From serve to return to drop shot, Nadal showed off his ability there. Analyst John McEnroe calls him the best volleyer in the game "bar none." Hard to argue after that last game. But he still can't shake Murray who is equally as sharp on his serve.

12:11: First guy to blink loses. Murray's turn to hold. He leads 4-3 in the first set. So far it has not been a clinic on finesse. Both of these guys are whacking balls into corners and chasing opponents around the court.

12:08: Service holds for Nadal. It is now 3-3.

12:05: Murray is battling but he's not only carrying the entire British Empire on his back but trying beat a guy who has only lost to one man (Roger Federer) in the past four Wimbledons. That includes two titles among his 10 majors.

12:01: The trainer is out talking to Murray again. A solid 3-2 start for him and he's now brushed off the trainer.

11:59: Nadal holds and we're at 2-2.

11:55: Murray holds again and is up in the opening set, 2-1. Lifetime against Nadal the Spaniard holds a big advantage on the Brit, 11-4.

11:50: Nadal and Murray are under way in the second semifinal. They both hold serve to get it going.

11:24: Some stats from the first semifinal. Tsonga dominated on aces (12-5) and winners (41-34) but Djokovic controlled the unforced errors better (13-29). Djokovic also was far better on his second serves, winning 68% of those points compared to Tsonga's 47%.

11:17: Djokovic quickly gets to 40-15 and closes it out on his third match-point opportunity of the day as Tsonga barely gets a racket on the final serve of the day. Djokovic moves on to the final, winning 7-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.

11:14: Djokovic will serve for the match again after Tsonga holds serve. He had this same situation in the third set, and flubbed it.

11:10: Djokovic yields only one point while holding serve to get to 5-2 in the fourth, a game away from winning the match. He came up with a huge hop on a second serve to get the game to 40-15.

11:07: Tsonga powers through a love service game and now really needs a break to get back in it, trailing 4-2 in the fourth.

11:04: Djokovic gets off to a 0-30 start on serve but rattles off four straight points to hold and lead 4-1 in the fourth.

10:59: Tsonga catches Djokovic leaning the wrong way and closes out a service win with an ace. Djokovic leads the fourth, 3-1.

10:55: Tsonga has a couple of sloppy returns and Djokovic holds with little resistance for a 3-0 lead in the fourth.

10:52: Tsonga loses the momentum he had going after winning the tie-break. He's broken immediately to start the fourth, and trails 2-0. But the third set started similarly.

10:48: Little delay to the start of the fourth set, as Tsonga runs off for a bathroom break. Djokovic serves to begin and holds with a love game.

10:42: Djokovic goes long with a mishit, giving Tsonga set point on his serve. Tsonga pounds a serve down the middle and Djokovic returns it long. The tie-breaker and the third set go to Tsonga.

10:41: The third-set tie-break goes to 9-9, and they switch ends.

10:39: Tsonga puts too much muscle on a second serve, and then nets the next serve. Djokovic has another match point, but Tsonga averts it with an ace and a service winner. He's up 9-8 in the tie-break.

10:37: An ace puts Tsonga up 7-6 in the tie-break. Djokovic serving now.

10:35: A 20-stroke rally ends with Tsonga netting a backhand. Djokovic has match point, with Tsonga serving. Tsonga holds it off with a winning forehand volley. 6-6 in the tie-breaker now. Tsonga is consistently serving at better than 130 mph.

10:33: Djokovic lets out a howl when he loses a long rally by netting a backhand. Tie-breaker is even at 5-5.

10:30: Tsonga gives back a point with a botched serve-and-volley, then gets the lead back at 3-2 when he handles a high bounce off the net cord.

10:29: Tsonga begins the tie-breaker with a mini-break, scoring with a solid backhand volley. Up 2-1.

10:27: Third-set tie-breaker on the way as Tsonga fires back for a break. He jumped on a couple of second serves and ended the 15-40 game with a 101-mph forehand passing shot.

10:23: Djokovic breaks and will serve for the match. He got it to 15-40 on a lucky tip off the net cord, and crossed himself immediately.

10:19: Djokovic holds at love. Tsonga couldn't do anything with his serve. 5-5 in the third.

10:15: Tsonga suddenly has his thunder back. He wins a 40-15 service game with a pair of aces and wins a volleying showdown at the net. Tsonga leads the third set 5-4, and Djokovic faces a must-hold situation.

10:13: Does Tsonga have another big comeback in him? Djokovic gets a little sloppy and gets in a 0-40 hole on serve. Tsonga gets the break and evens the third set at 4-4 with a powerful cross-court smash. And he does a little dance.

10:09: Tsonga holds and ends the game with another amazing point that left both players stretched out on the grass after diving for returns. There also was another point with a great exchange of drop shots, and an over-the-shoulder shot from Tsonga, running off the court. Great stuff. Djokovic still up, 4-3 in the third.

10:04: Djokovic breezes through a 40-15 service game for a 4-2 lead in the third. Tsonga is running out of time.

10:00: Djokovic leads the third set 3-2 after he and Tsonga hold serve. Tsonga is still pounding the ball despite the score, and ends his service game with a mighty ace.

9:55: Djokovic gets the break and goes up 2-1 in the third. There was a sensational point for 0-30 that got the crowd roaring. A 16-stroke rally ended with Djokovic and Tsonga diving for volleys. Tsonga went long to end it and stayed down on the grass. Residula fatigue from that five-setter against Federer seems to be showing.

9:51: Djokovic remains on cruise control, holding serve in third for 1-1. Tsonga isn't doing anything with the few seconds serves he's getting.

9:48: Tsonga off to a good start in the third, holding serve. 1-0.

9:45: Djokovic closes out the second set in style, with a 40-0 game. He lost only three points on serve while taking the set 6-2.

9:43: Tsonga regains a little zip and holds with a 40-15 game. At least he's making Djokovic serve out the set, up 5-2.

9:39: Djokovic puts on a hat with the Centre Court glare increasing, and clearly is ready to top off a second-set victory. He gets to 5-1, holding serve and ending the game with a deft drop shot.

9:35: Djokovic goes up a double break in the second, 4-1. Tsonga netted a forehand to give him break point and then followed with another unforced error. Tsonga's frustration is starting to show.

9:30: Djokovic wins his serve to take a 3-1 lead. He looks so much stronger and more confident since early in the match.

9:26: Tsonga wins his serve to close it to 2-1 in the second set.

9:24: The Novak train continues to roll toward the station. Djokovic wins his service and is now up 2-0 in the second set.

9:21: The day is beginning to have a Djokovic smell to it. He has broken his opponent in the first game of the second set and leads 1-0.

9:18: Djokovic is 82-4 in majors when winning first set. We add that Federer was 176-0 after winning two sets. Tsonga has to be thinking "numbers? I don't need no stinking numbers."

9:16: Unforced error by Tsonga and Djokovic takes the first set 7-5. A nice comeback for him as he was broken in his first game and then came back to break Tsonga when he was serving for the set. We would never count out a guy who returned from two sets down to beat a six-time champion but Tsonga has to be sitting on his chair knowing he let the momentum slide back across the net to Djokovic.

9:15: Djokovic one point away from taking first set.

9:13: Djokovic now up 4-2 in the tie-break and he'll be serving. We have a Pippa Middleton sighting. Surprised she could get off work for another day. Or maybe her boss just saw her on camera.

9:09: Tsonga, with an ace, has a 2-1 lead in the tie-break. Djokovic is 5-4 in tie-breaks and Tsonga lost the tie-break in the second set of the Federer match. That was his last misstep against the six-time champion. Just saying, not suggesting he dump this tie-break.

9:05: We are going to a tie-break. Golfers continue to visit Centre Court. Today its Ernie Els and Gary Player. They must have gotten the seats that Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus had the other day.

9:01: A great drop shot gives Djokovic a 6-5 first set lead. Tsonga, who last was serving to take the first set, is now serving to save it and send it to a tie-break.

8:55: Okay, the game is afoot. Djokovic breaks Tsonga to tie the set 5-5. It is the first break of Tsonga since the first game in the five-set match against Federer.

8:53: Okay, now Tsonga is showing off. He's saved five break points so far. Down 0-40 he's back to 40-all in what could be the winning game of the set.

8:52: Again Djokovic is up 0-30 on his opponent's serve but Tsonga has been unworldly in the tournament is coming back from deficits, especially game and set points.

8:49: It is now 5-4 with Djokovic holding serve but Tsonga serving for the set.

8:44: Djokovic will rue this game. He had two break points and allowed Tsonga to come back and make it 5-3. Djokovic had a game winner and missed on a forehand and then Tsonga overpowered him to come back.

8:43: Could this be the game? Djokovic is up 0-30 on Tsonga's serve.

8:40: Djokovic wins his serve but trails 4-3 in the set. The question remains as to whether he can answer Tsonga's serve.

8:35: Tsonga gets a smile from Djokovic as both throw their bodies around the court with Tsonga getting a drop-shot winner. Perhaps the best point of the tournament. Tsonga leads 4-2 as he has been in position to hammer home winners (the deciding point excluded).

8:32: Djokovic is again masterful on his serve making it 2-3 but that lost first service game is becoming that itch that he can't scratch. He gets another chance to get back right now.

8:30: We are all called to serve but Tsonga does it better than most. He now leads 3-1 and didn't give Djokovic any openings on the court. Like Federer, Djokovic is in the position of having to do more than dominate on his own serve.

8:26: Good answer from Djokovic to make it 1-2 as he doesn't surrender a point in game 3. Now he has to do something that Federer couldn't do after the first game of the first set and that is to break the man while he's on the line.

8:22: Djokovic had a chance to break Tsonga but his opponent's serve was too strong. Tsonga now up 2-0 in the first set. That is an opening you can not give up on if you are Djokovic. A confident player is a dangerous one.

8:20: Analyst Darren Cahill calls Djokovic the best returner in the game. That has led him to ad point and a chance to get back on serve. How huge would that be?

8:12: Tsonga breaks Djokovic. This is how he crushed Federer's hopes. Tsonga coming up with his first serve. It is early to say that it's panic time for Djokovic but we might not be too far off.

8:09: Game time. Djokovic will be serving.

8:03: It is hard to believe that Tsonga could serve as well today as he did against Roger Federer. If he does he'll be the winner. But you have to think Djokovic is the favorite. We'll see if we still believe that after we're an hour into this match.

7:47: As Tsonga and Djokovic warm up, it occurs that if this Jo-Willie wins it all, it might be more of a surprise then when the original white-shoed JW took his Jets to the 1969 Super Bowl title.

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