Andy Murray Into Australian Open Final
28 January 2010
0Comments | Comment on this Article
Britain's seventy four year wait for a male Grand Slam champion could be over as Andy Murray powered into the Australian Open final with a four set win over Marin Cilic.
While Andy Murray was the heavy favourite going into the match Cilic pulled out a shock victory in the early stages of the U.S. Open last September when he dispatched Murray in straight sets.
But Murray was yet to drop a set going into the match and Cilic had played three five set matches during the course of the tournament.
And it was Murray who had the chance to break his opponent in the Cilic's opening service game but missed his chance to get the upper hand in the set.
Cilic soon settled into the match and he went toe to toe with the Scot as he went 0-40 up on the Murray serve. Despite Murray's fight back he was soon broken to give Cilic the edge.
From this point on Cilic was in full control of the first set as his forehand began to fire he broke Murray again and the set was his 6-3.
Into the second set and the first break chance fell to Murray again at 2-2 a lob from Cilic looked like Murray was going to miss out on breaking once again but he chased it down before hitting an impossible forehand to give him the edge.
Fired up and with the crowd on his side the momentum was now with Murray as he served the set out to level the match.
Cilic's serve was now under constant attack from Murray and a break in the seventh game in the third was enough to hand his the set to lead 2-1.
As the fourth set got underway Cilic began to tire, his tough route to the semi-final really starting to show, and Murray took full advantage.
A double fault by Cilic early in the set handed Murray the break and the match was all but over. A second break and Murray wrapped up a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 win.
Speaking on court after his match the British number one said: "Marin showed incredible guts, he had played three five-setters here. He made it so tough for me and he was so clearly tired after his hard week.
"After losing the first set I just went for my shots."
He will now face either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, who play tomorrow, in Sunday's final.
0Comments | Be the first to comment!
