Andy Murray outlasted Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Friday night. Murray twice trailed by a set before taking the fourth and the fifth to prevail after four hours and three minutes of play.
The showdown got off to a shockingly inauspicious start for the second-ranked Scot, as he got broken at love in the very first game. Not surprisingly, that all but decided the set. Raonic held the entire way, saving three break points in the process.
In fact, the big-serving Canadian got broken only once in the first three sets. It cost him the second when he dropped serve at 5-6, but Raonic did little wrong throughout the third. He struck 19 winner’s to Murray’s 10, won 20 of 22 first-serve points, and led the tiebreaker from start to finish after seizing an early mini-break.
The rest of the way, however, it was almost all Murray. Raonic took a medical timeout for an apparent groin issue at 1-2 in the fourth and was soon broken at love in his 3-3 service game. Arguably the last crucial moment of the match came with Murray serving down break point at 4-3. The world No. 2 saved it with a winning forehand volley despite Raonic having gotten a decent look at a backhand pass. Murray held two points later.
After closing out the fourth, it was one-way traffic for Murray throughout the decider against a hobbled opponent.
Highlights:
“(It was) probably the most heartbroken I felt on court, but that’s what it is,” said Raonic, who destroyed a racket after donating serve to begin the fifth. “I felt good. I sort of dipped a little bit too much on my return. I think I was forcing a little bit too much…. I’m happy with where my tennis is at, I just wish I could play.”
Racket smash:
“I’ve obviously played very good tennis here,” commented Murray, who is through to the final in Melbourne for the fifth time in his career. “I’ve given myself many opportunities to reach the finals; seven straight quarterfinals, as well. I have a very good shot on Sunday if I play my best tennis.”
The latter statement is, of course, debatable. Standing on the other side of the net will be none other than five-time champion Novak Djokovic. The top-ranked Serb boasts 10 major titles overall and he is 4-0 lifetime against Murray at this event.
[polldaddy poll=9291052]
how many sets for Djokovic?
Why wasn’t Milos relentlessly booed like Rafa was when he returned from his MTO?
#RhetoricalQuestion
#Federazzi
smart question!
Maybe because Murray didn’t act up and have a hissy fit like Stan did when Rafa went off the court!
good point, nny!
No.
Please try again.
If my memory serves me correctly, A. Murray also went off the court. (I didn’t watch every minute of the match.)
because Milos was winning the match and his opponent didn’t have the momentum when he took the MTO. Pretty basic stuff.
No. Waaaaaaaaay off.
Try again.
nny was partially right.
#HonourableMentions
I didn’t get to see the match, but checked the result online. Then I realized that my recording would have cut off before it ended. ESPN is going to replay it at 2:00 pm today and I have it set to record. I only saw the first set and a half, but I am not surprised that it took five sets. Raonic came out blasting and Murray seemed flat.
I won’t want to miss this one! I am glad that Murray did find a way to win in the end.
i haven’t been able to watch all the matches (have to get some sleep from time to time lol) but the battle between Murray and Raonic for me was easily the most engrossing – even better than the Simon-Djokovic tussle. Shame Milos was hobbled by an injury for the fifth set but chapeau to him for soldiering on Hope there is no lasting effect. Murray will have to tidy up his act on Sunday or he will be mown down by the runaway train.
Murray hasn’t even played that well so far he just had a very good draw imo. I say Nole takes him down in four. And I’m kind of being nice in giving muzza a set here but I say he digs one out.
The robot will win.
Ageed. Tennis has become predictable and boring. WTA has not been interesting since Kim and Justine retired the first time. The men’s game used to have some good match-ups but now it’s like listening to a broken record.