'Murray Mania' reaches new level at Wimbledon

GlobalPost

Murray Mania is about to get a little more manic.

Andy Murray defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 today at Wimbledon to become the first British tennis player in more than 70 years to play for a men’s title.

The 25-year-old Scotsman will play Roger Federer in Sunday’s final.

Federer is trying to equal Pete Sampras for most men’s championships with seven; he’s also trying to regain the world number-1 ranking and win a record 17th Grand Slam title.

“Sometimes it takes a guy a bit longer than others,” Murray said before the match, according to the Boston Globe. “I’ve been close a lot of times and not quite made it. I have to keep putting myself in the position and hopefully it will click.’’

More from GlobalPost: Roger Federer beats Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon semifinal

Federer is excited about playing the “local hero.”

“I always say in whatever country I am in, I like to play the local hero, I kind of call them, and Andy is exactly that here at Wimbledon,” Federer told ITV.

Not since Bunny Austin lost to Don Budge in 1938 has a Brit played for the men's crown.

Fred Perry, who defeated Budge in 1936, was the last Brit to hoist the trophy.

Murray joins another Brit in a Wimbledon final.

Jonny Marray and his partner, Dane Freddie Nielsen, defeated the defending champion Bryan brothers, Mike and Bob, in men’s doubles.

Marray is the first Briton to reach the championship since 1960, The Independent reported.

Bobby Wilson and Mike Davies represented Britain 52 years ago.

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