Murray hunting double

Andy Murray and Laura Robson thrilled the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon by reaching the Olympic mixed doubles semi-finals.

The British pair managed an unexpected victory over Australian opponents, holding their nerve to beat Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur 6-3 3-6 10-8.

The pair looked confident in the opening set but Hewitt and Stosur, both grand slam singles champions, showed their class to level the match.

The first point of the match tie-break had to be replayed as a ball girl mistakenly ran across the court when she wrongly thought the point had finished.

It looked as though victory might slip away from the British pair, with men's singles finalist Murray letting out a howl of frustration as he and Robson slipped 7-5 down in the tie-break.

But they pulled it back to secure a place in a semi-final against Germany's Sabine Lisicki and Christopher Kas.

Murray said after the match: "We played the better first set, they played the better second set and then the champions tie break was a bit of a lottery, we were down 7-5 and 8-6 as well. So we did well to come back, it was very close.

"I think we did a good job. The mixed doubles can be a bit up and down sometimes."

The world number four said he is putting in maximum effort to the doubles competition despite needing to be ready for the men's singles final on Sunday.

"A medal is a medal, it doesn't matter what it's in, whether it's in singles, doubles, mixed. It all counts for the same so I want to try and win a medal in the mixed if we can and give it everything tomorrow for sure.

"I'm sure by the end I will be a bit tired, things will be a bit sore, but it will be worth it."

Controversy arose over Robson being chosen as Murray's partner after British number one Heather Watson said she felt she should have been picked.

Robson said she was happy with her performance.

"I'm happy after any win. I thought we played well and it was definitely a tough match, but we're in the medal rounds now so that's really exciting for me."

The Melbourne-born athlete said she has no sympathy for her Australian opponents.

"I never lived in Melbourne so I don't have any soft spot. I'm happy we won, and we beat them in the rowing this morning."

She said she hopes Murray can win medals in both the singles and doubles competitions.

"Winning any sort of medal at the Olympics, especially a home Olympics, will be really something quite special. Andy has a chance to do it in the singles as well so hopefully we can do both."