Murray Marches into Australian Open Tennis Final
Going into his first Australian Open semi-final against Marin Cilic, Andy Murray would have had at the back of his mind his loss to the towering Croation player at the 2009 US Open. That loss came in the fourth round. Overall Murray was 3-1 going into the match but the hard court result at the US Open was most telling.
Cilic is obviously in good form having defeating Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Murray, both 6-3 in the fifth set. He had also defeated Australia’s Bernard Tomic in five sets in the second round.
Murray reached the semi-final without dropping a set including a win over the defending champion Rafael Nadal. He was pushed to tie-breaks twice, once against John Isner and in the match against Nadal.
Cilic who was playing in his first grand slam semi-final started the match well and took the opening set 6-3. Cilic got the decisive break 2-2 in the first set. Murray tried to hit back straight away but failed to convert three break points in the following game. Cilic extended his lead to 4-2. Cilic broke for the second time at 5-3 to take the set.
In the after match press conference Murray said, “A lot of nerves and stuff in the first set.” to explain his slow start.
Murray was pressured early in the second set and fought back from 0-30 in the second game before a momentum changing point when at 2-2 and 03-40 with Cilic serving Murray played perhaps the point of the tournament to break.
Murray showed just how fast he is when he chased down a ball that clipped the net and fell short. After pushing the ball back, Cilic then hit the next shot, Murray volleyed short and then Cilic cleverly lobbed only to see Murray sprint to the baseline and then hit an amazing forehand while running the wrong way. He showed obvious delight letting out a huge war cry.
A pumped up Murray then pushed on to win the second set 6-4. He started hitting returns hard and deep to the feet of Cilic and the 198cm Croat had trouble handling some of these shots. Murray was also pounding some of the second serves and hitting winners.
In the third set Cilic was able to break Murray once however gave up his serve twice to see the Scot take it 6-4.
In the fourth set Cilic was serving at just 52% compared with 57 in the second and 61 in the third. That along with Murray now having a sniff of an Australian Open tennis final berth saw Murray take control of the match. He took both break point opportunities to close out the match 6-2.
The final score was 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Before the match was completed Murray played another shot which is sure to make the highlight reel. He was to sprint to his right and from way out wide he hit a winner around the post.
Murray now has the luxury of two full days off before the Sunday final where he will play the winner of the Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga semi-final which is played Friday night in Melbourne.
After the match Murray said he would put in a long practice on Friday, close to two hours and 30-40 minutes Saturday as he prepares for the final. He also commented about the size of his mouth when shown the replay of his amazing shot following the Cilic lob. He did not know it was so big.
If Federer can advance to the final, Murray will have a chance to avenge his 2008 final loss to Federer at the US Open.
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