Andy Murray arrives at Wimbledon this morning

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Where to watch the Wimbledon semi-finals

HUNDREDS of thousands of Londoners have skived off work to watch Andy Murray's bid to be the first Brit to reach the Wimbledon final for more than 70 years.

Dozens of desks in City offices were deserted this morning and rail travellers reported empty seats on busy routes as people fed-up with sweltering commutes decided to take the day off.

According to a leading firm of employment lawyers today was due to be a “black day” for bosses with many people choosing to extend their own weekends in order to make the most of the last of the scorching weather.

The presence of a British player still in the Wimbledon tennis championship at this late stage has inspired supporters to take a sick day and watch his semi-final against Andy Roddick at home.

Off the court, it’s battle of the Wimbledon WAGs – English Rose vs American bikini model… Find out more here

The BBC are expecting around 10 million people to watch the match in some form or other – either on the television or through the internet player, which has seen the highest user figures since the Beijing Olympic Games.

But as the match is expected to start at around 3pm many workers would have normally missed the game so instead have stayed at home.

"Our evidence suggests that more and more workers see the good weather on a Friday afternoon as too good an opportunity to miss, and this combined with the tennis is not good for employers"

Peter Mooney, of legal firm the Employment Law Advisory Services (Elas), said: “We shouldn’t underestimate the draw of the heat-wave and Andy Murray reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

“Our evidence suggests that more and more workers see the good weather on a Friday afternoon as too good an opportunity to miss, and this combined with the tennis is not good for employers.

“We have estimated that the Friday Feeling already costs British business just over £50m a year, which all goes to form part of the overall £13bn cost of workplace absenteeism.

“We are predicting that today will be the worst ever case of ‘Friday Feeling’.”

Off the court, it’s battle of the Wimbledon WAGs – English Rose vs American bikini model… Find out more here

On the evidence of their recent meetings Murray is predicted to beat Roddick and make it through to the final today.

Tickets for the final have been changing hands for thousands of pounds, but to avoid disappointment one ticket retailer has made an astonishing £1m promise to refund all men’s final tickets if Murray wins Wimbledon.

Viagogo, which is legally reselling some of the 2,300 debenture tickets, will refund all fees and shipping costs added to ticket prices if Murray is victorious in the final.

Where to watch the Wimbledon semi-finals