Murray back on track and into semis

 IF the suns shines on Andy Murray like this for the rest of the week, Britain's 73 years of hurt may yet come to an end at SW19 on Sunday.

MARCHING ON: Another slow for Andy Murray but the British number one raced through his quarter final with Juan Carlos Ferrero

Normal service has been resumed at Wimbledon. The roof was redundant, the skies were blue, and Murray's thumping victory over Juan Carlos Fererro was red hot.

Any doubts that crept into the hoards of expectant Brits hoarded onto Henman Hill after Monday's nail-biting five-set thriller with Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka were well and truly expunged.

Ferrero wilted in the blistering heat on centre court, but Murray's fires were stoked and he is now just two victories away from being the first male Brit since 1936 to hoist the Wimbledon crown aloft.

The world number three helped himself to 20 points from 21 on offer in a second-set demolition job on the hapless Spaniard in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Far from the four-hour drama on Monday, Murray spent just one hour 43 minutes under the SW19 sun, just 60 seconds longer than Roger Federer spent in his last-eight victory over Ivo Karlovic.

The writing has been on the wall for some time, but surely these two have a date with destiny on Sunday afternoon.

Where Murray hesitated against Wawrinka, he was clinical against Ferrero - it's one thing for a potential champion to grind out victories when not on top form, it's quite another to learn from your mistakes.

But that's exactly Scot how the Scot reacted to book his spot in the last four - the first Brit to do so since Tim Henman 2002 - for what will be only his second semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam.

And what a difference 12 months makes for Murray. This time last year a nerve-jangling five-set victory over Richard Gasquet in round four left the Scot out of puff for his quarter-final clash with Rafael Nadal.

Murray did not last long against the eventual champion, but this time around, Murray is much leaner and a great deal meaner.

"It's a great feeling and obviously I'm happy to win in straight sets after what happened on Monday,"" said Murray.

"And it's great for me to get to the semi finals. I don't think it brings any added pressure bacuse I've been to this stage before at the US Open last year.

"It wasn't a great start to the match, there were lots of errors from both of us, but it was very hot out there and I think that made a difference.

"It was pretty different match today - the court was a lot quicker because it was very dry so I got a lot of cheap points on my serve.

"It took me a while to get used to the conditions again to be honest but I thought I played well in the second and third sets.

"I've got to keep going because it doesn't matter who well I've played up until now - I understand that I could lose the next match if I don't play at my best.

It was the British number one making all the running against Ferrero. Murray accelerated through the gears in the second set and the former world number one, dubbed The Mosquito, was swatted out of his way.

But Murray will need further improvements should he reach the final. He began the first set just as sluggishly as he did against Wawrinka, but where the Swiss ace was inspired, Ferrero was just as inaccurate.

A sub-standard first set ensued but Murray has more fighting spirit than Ferrero and he ground out a one-set lead as the crucial break handed to him with a double fault.

Murray was seemingly not going to have get out of second gear, but an early break in the second set from Ferrero -the French Open champion in 2003 - dispelled that myth with an early break.

With the scores at deuce on the fifth game of the set, and Ferrero 3-1 up, Murray went into overdrive - he won 20 of the next 21 points to claim to second set - the rest was history.

The third set was a mere formality, wrapped up by Murray 6-2, with consummate ease and booked a semi-final clash with either Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt, both former world number ones.

"If I'm not at my best then I'm going to lose against Hewitt or Roddick. They are both former world number ones and grand slam winners," added Murray.

"My consistency since the last Wimbledon has been very very good bar maybe one poor match at the Olympics.

"I'd hope I'd got an extra gear if I needed one - we'll have to wait and see. If you are in a game when you have to up you level then I'd hope I could do that."

 * Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grassroots to world class tennis events. For further information visit www.lta.org.uk