Murray hurries to the semis

Andy Murray cruised into his first Wimbledon semi-final today, swatting Spain's Juan Carlos Ferroro - aka The Mosquito - in straight sets.

Playing in front of a hot and steamy Centre Court, the 22-year-old raced through the quarter-final winning 7-5 6-3 6-2 in just one hour and 41 minutes.

The Scot now faces two-time beaten finalist Andy Roddick of the United States tomorrow for a place in the final - tickets are changing hands for £20,000.

"Once I had got that first set I started to settle down and I returned great in the end," he said.

After Monday's five-set epic, which finished at 10:39pm under the new roof on Centre Court, Murray was clearly in a hurry to get this match over, hammering down nine aces as he took the first set.

After such a dominant display, it was a surprise when the British number one was broken at the start of the second.

Ferrero produced a superb forehand passing shot when Murray made a rare visit to the net, and Murray then dumped a tame backhand into the net.

That helped the former world number one take a 3-1 lead, but Murray raised his game to break to love twice in succession, winning five games in a row to take the set 6-3.

From deuce at 3-1 down on his own serve, Murray took 18 of the next 19 points as Ferrero wilted under the pressure.

Ferrero held serve in the opening game of the final set, but his body language did not suggest he was confident of a comeback.

In contrast Murray was throwing himself around the court after apparently lost causes, almost ending up in the crowd as he chased a Ferrero smash.

Ferrero saved a break point in the third game and two more in his next service game before finally succumbing to the pressure, Murray moving the Spaniard around the court at will before firing a forehand winner down the line to take a 3-2 lead.

And that comprehensively signalled the end of the former French Open champion's resistance, Murray breaking him again to love as he stormed to a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win.

Would Murray prefer to face Hewitt or Roddick in the semis?

"Both are tough, they've got a lot of experience, I'd just like them to have a long match," he said in his post-match TV chat.

Whatever happens next, he's the first Brit to reach the semis at SW19 since Tim Henman. A first men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936? You better begin to believe it.

Andy Murray has claimed an historic victory at Wimbledon - by beating an old mate at table football.

He hammered British doubles specialist Ross Hutchins on the fussball pitch last night - before taking dog Maggie out for a game of frisbee.

Murray wrote on his Twitter page: "Dominated table football vs Ross H. He has no game. Frisbee with my dog was cool but her catching needs work."

The Scottish star's relaxed spirit just hours after his epic battle beneath Wimbledon's new roof is great news for the millions of fans awaiting tonight's quarter-final against 29-year-old Juan Carlos Ferrero - the speedy Spaniard nicknamed The Mosquito.

Temperatures are set to reach 30C but the humidity brings with it a 10 per cent chance of rain ... meaning the roof could be put back on again.

But the world number three is taking it all in his stride.

He told fans today that despite complaints it was like being in a warm bath he "loved" playing under the canopy .. and thanked a local pizza restaurant for firing up the ovens for him after his marathon match on Monday, which did not finish until 10.38pm.

He blogged: "Before I forget, thanks a lot to Pizza Express Wimby Village for firing up their ovens after they shut last night just for me. Really kind."

And he's even taken a call from another famous compatriot: "Had a phone call from sean connery-he called to say well done yesterday. Much nicer than someone trying to sell you a phone upgrade."

Fans - some of whom have queued for TWO DAYS to get their hands on tickets for tonight's centre court action - were gearing up for another nail-biting encounter.

Rachel Codd, 25, a law student from Clapham, south west London, came through the turnstiles wearing a Union flag as a dress.

"We should show support for Murray," she said. "He's got to get the crowd going.

Ben Teacher, a 26-year-old personal trainer from Hampstead, north west London, wore a Great Britain tracksuit.

"Everyone wants to see Murray at the moment," he said. "He's got such pressure on his shoulders but I think he can really do it.

"I like his persona, the way he shouts 'Come on!" and gets the crowd going. People want to see passion. English people love passion ... even though he's Scottish."

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