Murray defends question regarding Ferguson's hairdryer treatment

'Don't be too hard' on BBC reporter Garry Richardson for inappropriate question, tweets British No 1 after entering Wimbledon semi-finals.

Sir Alex Ferguson, left, and Nemanja Vidic, of Manchester United, were at Centre Court to watch Andy Murray play. Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

Andy Murray revealed BBC reporter Garry Richardson apologised to him after the interview that followed the Scot's Wimbledon quarter-final win against Fernando Verdasco.

Richardson spoke to Murray on live television moments after his gruelling 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory on Centre Court, and made reference to the famed football dressing-room methods of Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager, who was a spectator.

He related Ferguson's tactics to Murray's coach Ivan Lendl, and enquired whether Murray might need some tough talking.

Richardson said: "Sir Alex Ferguson was in the Royal Box today watching you. He's been known to go into the dressing room after matches and give his players a bit of hairdryer treatment. Will Lendl say some things to you Andy to sort of gee you up or do you not need that? Do you know it all yourself?"

Murray answered by expressing pride in how he had managed to come from two sets down to win the best-of-five match.

"I don't know it all, far from it," he said. "But I don't see why I should get told off after that.

"I tried incredibly hard, chased every single ball down from the first to the last and I came through an incredibly tough match. It could have gone the other way but I found a way through."

He may not have been impressed by the line of questioning but Murray later suggested the criticism aimed at Richardson on various media was unnecessary.

"Don't be too hard on garry richardson he had a bad day and he apologised afterwards," Murray wrote on Twitter.

What could have been a dismal night for Murray ended with him having a long discussion with fellow Scot Ferguson, who was also present in New York last September for his US Open triumph.

"Got to spend 15 minutes with sir alex ferguson afterwards.. fascinating person... He's got some great stories," The 26 year old tweeted.

He also revealed how he was toasting the win that carried him into the semi-finals, saying: "That was a massive fight out there today, just managed to squeeze through! Lying on my bed treating myself to a milkybar to celebrate..."

The BBC interview was available to watch on the BBC website, however Richardson's question regarding Ferguson was not included in the footage.

Later at the news conference, Murray, who will meet giant Pole Jerzy Janowicz in the last four on Friday, said his previous experience of extricating himself from such situations had played a part.

He said: "If you've never done it before, you don't know exactly what it takes and how to turn it round.

"The more times you're in those positions and the more times you can come back, you understand the way you need to think and the way you need to negotiate your way through the last few sets. I did a good job with that.

"Sometimes it can be easy to get back to two sets all. The final set, often the guy who won the first two comes back and wins that one.

"It's normally the toughest set of the three to win. I was expecting it to be tough and hung in well."

Murray played poorly in the second set and admitted he feared he was on the way out.

"You're obviously concerned. You're more concerned about losing the match, not thinking so much that I'm going to lose at Wimbledon," he said.

"I definitely didn't rush when I went two sets to love down. I slowed myself down, if anything, and that was a good sign."

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