'Nation's last hope' Andy Murray is all smiles after reaching Wimbledon semis

Andy Murray allowed himself a chuckle as it was put to him that he is "the nation's last hope" after his quarter-final Wimbledon victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Murray looked exhausted after the gruelling five-set encounter, but smiled at the suggestion the country's emotional well-being now lay on his shoulders.

In his press conference, he was asked: "The country is a bit miserable right now. We need a new prime minister, Top Gear presenter, new England football manager and Wales is losing. How does it feel to be the nation's last hope?"

Murray answered: "It's not that bad, is it? Is it that bad?", before adding: "There's a lot more hopes than me. I just try my best at this event to make all the people that watch happy.

"Hopefully I can win a couple more."

The Scot said he was as fired up in the match against Tsonga as any before, and said the crowd's backing helped give him momentum.

He said: "That's why it's important to use the crowd, if you can, to your advantage, because they do make a difference.

"In long matches, tough matches, even if it's just half a percent difference it's good. I try to get the crowd into it as much as I can when I'm playing a home tournament."