Murray: “It was a tricky match. It was pretty windy and tough for both of us. I had to start as quickly as possible, I knew what he is capable of and didn’t underestimate him. Nick is a huge hitter so I tried to keep ball out of his reach. I played a slightly different style tonight – and thankfully it worked.”
And on facing Berdych in the semi-final: “It will be another tough match, he’s another big hitter of the ball, he hasn’t dropped a set so far. It will be tricky, hopefully I’ll put in another good performance.”
Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 Kyrgios
Murray calm as you like eases to two match points at 40-15 with a whipped forehand into the corner. He takes it on the first when he rushes to net and hits a winner into the corner. After two hours and five minutes, Murray books a semi-final showing with Tomas Berdych. MURRAY WINS THIRD SET TO BEAT KYRGIOS BY THREE SETS TO LOVE AND REACHES SEMI-FINAL
Murray 6-3, 7-6, 5-3 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios has his tail up and doesn’t appear to be the ‘cooked’ player he was a couple of games ago. He steadies himself to 30-0 but then a delayed challenge allows Murray back in when it appeared that the Brit had over-egged a return. Murray produces some sublime defensive work which draws Kyrgios to net, but then curls a fantastic forehand past the outstretching Kyrgios at the net while leading back to pull him back to 30-all. Kyrgios takes the next crucial point but then inconsistency takes a hold and in his excitedness he pulls the trigger and hits long again. Murray pulls out another cracking winner with the ball seemingly behind his feet for break point and he has the break back. MURRAY BREAKS.
Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 4-3 Kyrgios
Wow. Kyrgios is given a lifeline by Murray as he digs his way to a first break point at 30-40 as Murray’s mind probably thinks of a semi-final showing with Berdych. Kyrgios sends a return back which spends an age in the air of the Rod Laver Arena, when it finally lands in Murray’s half, Kyrgios has his racket held up in surrender mode – much to Murray’s dislike. The point goes and in a flash, Kyrgios brings up a second break point. Murray’s first serve goes missing, and Kyrgios finally breaks. Yes, he finally breaks. MURRAY IS BROKEN.
Murray 6-3, 7-6, 4-2 Kyrgios*
A sliced backhand from Murray fools Kyrgios who wasn’t expecting the return to creep over the net. He sticks out his racket in an attempt to pull off a ‘hot-dog’ shot, but it’s too little too late. Murray then stays in the game when he pulls Kyrgios back to 40-30 by stepping in and sending a forehand into the corner. And then he makes Kyrgios play one more shot and the 19-year-old seems to be flagging as he tamely hits into the net for deuce. Kyrgios moves from 40-0 to break point down but shows he still has a bit of fight left as he whips a forehand winner back. He’s well and truly spent out there as Murray clocks up break point No 2. Finally, he gets a first serve in to keep Murray at bay – for now. Murray steps into a second serve and hits an easy winner back and even Kyrgios has openly admitted on court that “he’s cooked”. Kyrgios is given the run around on the next, Kyrgios finally gets a ‘hot-dog’ shot back, but Murray delivers the killer punch. MURRAY BREAKS.
Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 3-2 Kyrgios
Murray has a slight wobble as Kyrgios wins SIX points on the bench to edge 30-0 up. Murray gets back on the frontfoot and controls the danger by rushing the net and hitting a backhand volleyed winner. Kyrgios can’t get a first serve back and it’s level-pegging before Murray restores the order with a third-straight point, flashing a forehand across court for game point. He makes it a fourth straight point when Krygios stretches but can’t control another booming serve down the middle.
Murray 6-3, 7-6, 2-2 Kyrgios*
Murray, who once his last clash with Dimitrov with a lucky cord drop on the final point, sees another clip the tape but it lands in his half as Kyrgios keeps Murray on his toes this match with a game to love. We’re racing through this set.
Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 2-1 Kyrgios
Murray is continuing to serve well and sends down an ace down the T to bring up two game points. He jumps on a short service return from Kyrgios to whip a forehand back and it’s another easy hold.
Murray 6-3, 7-6, 1-1 Kyrgios*
Murray has shown a much mature head in Melbourne, whether that’s because more of the opponents he’s coming up against now as younger than him, or whether he’s finally been able to keep his emotions in check on court, but it’s helping his game no end. Kyrgois manages to shake off that last set tie-break defeat to keep his focus and despite dropping a point, steers himself to game.
Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 1-0 Kyrgios
That’s the way to get up and running in the third, taking an easy game to 15. Has Kyrgios got anything left to give?
Murray 6-3, 7-6 Kyrgios (Tie-break)
Murray steals an early break and cements it with an ace out wide. Kyrgios stays strong at the net and swats a volley at the net on his way to drawing level for 2-2 and Kyrgios edges in front for the first time when he dances to the net and delicately delivers a nicely-timed drop shot which Murray doesn’t even bother chasing down. Kyrgios goes for a big ‘un on the next and hits long and then gives his head a decent knock which kind of looks like really did hurt – not that the big boy will show it. Locked at 3-3 and after the changeover, Murray can’t make a return and Kyrgios starts charging round the net as if he’s won the whole tournament, Lleyton Hewitt, eat your heart out. Murray responds with a fantastic lob on the next point and this is some tie-break being played out there. At four a piece, Kyrgios plays a loose shot which has lifted Murray’s mood. A correct challenge from Kyrgios sees Murray produce a first double fault of the match for 5-all, but he sets up set point when Kyrgios can’t read a kicked second serve. Kyrgios drops his racket to the floor with force and retreats to his corner to pick up another. Murray produces a second sublime lob this tie-break and takes the set for a two sets lead. MURRAY WINS SECOND SET TIE-BREAK FOR TWO SETS TO LOVE LEAD.
Murray* 6-3, 6-6 Kyrgios
Kyrgios goes for a second straight drop shot in the next game, but it wasn’t clearly disguised, or well executed for that matter, and the groans replace the cheers on Rod Laver. More inconsistency allows Murray to three game points and an ace down the T takes the set to a tie-break decider.
Murray 6-3, 5-6 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios adopts the Murray-styled fist pump to the crowd as he watches one Murray return fly wide. A second straight miss from Murray gifts Kygios a 30-0 lead before the giant Aussie bides his time and floats a delightful forehand to the baseline which is too good for Murray to chase down and he bends down to his knees. Murray works his opponent from side-to-side on the next, and comes off the victor at the end of a brusing 18-shot rally. And he gives Kyrgios the runaround for a second straight point, leaving Murray panting but still in the game at 40-30. Kyrgios puts Murray back in his box with a sublime drop shot – one which Murray would’ve been proud of – and moves ever closer to a tie-break. That’s got the crowd up on their feet.
Murray* 6-3, 5-5 Kyrgios
The atmosphere is bubbling on Rod Laver with the crowd now starting to believe that Kyrgios might snatch a set off Murray here. He lets out a groan as a service return is sent wide and then is staring at three game points when he fails to lift a return over the net. Another love game, brings up another straightforward game. Murray has only dropped eight points off his serve this set.
Murray 6-3, 4-5 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios moves up a gear and delivers his own love game. He hasn’t got close to breaking Murray all match though, so will have to move up another notch if he’s going to get close here.
Murray* 6-3, 4-4 Kyrgios
Murray’s serving has been exemplary today. A second straight love game for the Brit.
Murray 6-3, 3-4 Kyrgios*
Kyrgios rattles between points, as per his style, but his inconsistency isn’t helping matters. When he’s good, he’s very good, when he’s bad, he’s horrid and one slap into the net sums up his current up-and-down display. He manages to dig in to move to 40-30 and finally gets on the front foot to hit a return into the corner which Murray can’t get back.
source: telegraph.co.uk