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Nick Bollettieri: Now Murray must come out swinging at Federer

Having Ivan Lendl in his camp has helped him handle the expectation

Nick Bollettieri
Saturday 07 July 2012 02:31 BST
Comments

Holy mackerel! That was something else, wasn't it? What a match and what a bag of nerves all you guys must be after that.

For those first two sets Andy Murray played some of the finest tennis of his young life. He served big and that forehand was stunning – he was running the match. Then at the end of the second set he started to lose focus a little and back came Tsonga.

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep that edge when you have a two-set advantage, although you have to credit Tsonga for coming right back at Murray. I admire the big Frenchman so much.

Murray began forcing shots and lost some rhythm. You could see that burden of pressure weighing down on him. All those years, all that expectation. But you know what? He handled it. Having Ivan Lendl in his camp has been so important in that direction. He can relate to Murray what it takes to win a Slam and how to handle these situations. Murray has learnt well.

So who will win tomorrow? Federer has the advantage. He will be standing the other side of the net saying: "I've been here before, you have never been here before." What Murray has got to do is say: "To hell with it, baby, I'm coming out swinging." He will not win if he tries to play conservative tennis. Roll on tomorrow.

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