Andy Murray keeps Wimbledon title hopes alive after Jo-Wilfred Tsonga test

Andy Murray survived a Centre Court thriller to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the seventh time.

The world number two had cruised into the last eight but was taken the distance by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before coming through 7-6 (12/10) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1 after three hours and 53 minutes.

Murray has made a habit of fighting back from two sets down but this time it was Tsonga threatening to do the improbable.

Yet Murray has only ever lost once having won the first two sets and, after telling his box he was not going to lose this one, he delivered superbly to set up a last-four clash with Tomas Berdych.

Murray said: "Obviously it was a tough match. The end of the fourth set was really tough.

"I tried to use all my energy at the beginning of the fifth set to get myself up and get the crowd pumped up.

"Thankfully I got the early break and I hung on to it.''

Asked about letting his lead be whittled away, Murray said: "Tsonga's a pretty good player, he's not bad, he's one of the best grass-court players in the world. He came up with some great shots.

"He started returning better and mixed it up well. Credit to him for fighting his way back into the match.

"He fought really hard until the end.''

Murray was thrilled with the way he handled the decider, and added: "I'm happy I'm through to the semis, it's time to go and rest and get ready for the next one.''

Murray often trains at Wimbledon outside the championships and only then will he have seen Centre Court emptier than when he and Tsonga walked out following Roger Federer's epic comeback to beat Marin Cilic.

By the time most of the fans returned to their seats, Murray already had the advantage after two double faults from the Frenchman donated a break of serve, but Tsonga put his nervy start behind him to level at 4-4.

The crowd were still waiting for something to really draw them into the match and the tie-break certainly did that.

They had witnessed one of the tensest tie-breaks seen on Centre Court for many years between Federer and Cilic but this came close, with Murray forced to show the fighting skills for which he has become famous.

Tsonga threw everything at his opponent and brought up two set points at 6-4, only for Murray to come up with an ace and then a stunning return off a 129 miles per hour serve.

Tsonga found some magic of his own, threading a backhand down the line to save Murray's first set point, and he fought off a second and a third as well.

But the Scot chased down a drop shot to bring up a fourth, whipping up the crowd as Tsonga lay on the turf, and then clinched it with a volley.

Tsonga left the court for a bathroom break but he must have known how tough it would now be to beat a man he had only got the better of twice in 14 previous meetings, and never from a set down.

Then there was Murray's remarkable record against French players to consider. Since losing to Tsonga in the Australian Open eight and a half years ago, Murray had never been defeated by a French player in 26 consecutive grand slam meetings.

It was clear how much of a blow it was to Tsonga to lose that opening set as the second flew by, with Murray dropping just four points in the first five games.

Tsonga at least avoided a bagel and he could take heart from having fought back from two sets down to defeat John Isner in round three.

Murray was desperate not to drop a set but the Frenchman's huge forehand was cutting through his superb defences and, although the Scot saved a set point at 5-2 behind, a 132mph serve was enough for Tsonga to take it.

Then Murray looked full of tension at the start of the fourth, while Tsonga was swinging freely, but it was the home hope who struck first, breaking to lead 4-2.

Any thoughts that it might be straightforward from there were dismissed as Tsonga broke back immediately, saved three break points and made it four games in a row to force a fifth set.

Murray was a ball of nervous energy, screaming at himself and his box - despite the presence of coach Ivan Lendl - but a huge amount of credit had to be given to his opponent.

Tsonga is renowned as a streaky player but he showed a enormous amount of heart to stay in the match, reviving memories of his comeback from a similar position to beat Federer at the same stage in 2011.

This time he was hoping to emulate the great Swiss.

Murray was forced to save another break point in the first game of the deciding set and was then seen to mouth to his box: "No way I'm going to lose this match.''

He took the first step towards keeping that promise by breaking the Tsonga serve in the second game, letting out a huge roar, which was matched by the crowd.

Of six previous five-set matches at Wimbledon, Tsonga had won all of them, but he was on the ropes when Murray broke again to lead 4-0.

The title favourite had the insurance he needed and clinched victory with an ace, raising his arms in triumph.

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