Murray faces Djokovic or Wawrinka
Thursday 29 January 2015 16:28, UK
Andy Murray delivered one of his finest Grand Slam semi-final displays on Thursday to book a final berth.
The Scot will now challenge for his third Grand Slam prize, and his first in Australia, after a come-from-behind defeat of Tomas Berdych.
Murray triumphed over early adversity, losing the opening set and injuring his calf, before roaring back with three straight sets including a bagel to win 6-7, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.
The British No 1 was clearly instructing his coaching staff that he’d hurt his leg early in the contest but he let out numerous trademark celebrations on the way to sealing a fourth Australian Open final.
He’ll meet Novak Djokovic or Stan Wawrinka who contest the second semi-final on Friday.
Murray’s victory was toasted by a beaming Kim Sears and Amelie Mauresmo in the crowd – his fiancé applauded heartily and his maligned head coach emotionally accepted Murray’s praise.
Ladies day Down Under
Serena Williams will play Maria Sharapova in the women’s final of the Australian Open after both came through Thursday’s semi-finals.
Williams defeated fellow American Madison Keys 7-6 6-2 and Sharapova beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 in an all-Russian affair.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion Williams was briefly scared after losing the first three games to her teenage opponent but fought to a tie-break and took the set with a booming serve and an even bigger scream of joy.
The second set was a more straightforward event until Williams required nine match points to finally see off Keys.
Sharapova, the 2008 winner at Melbourne Park, won her sixth straight match against Makarova but doesn’t enjoy such a dominant record against Williams.
The American has won 16 of the pair’s 18 meetings and Sharapova hasn’t beaten her since 2004.
Meanwhile, former world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt announced he would retire after next January's Australian Open.
- A proud mother...
“A lot of people criticised me for working with her and I think so far this week we have shown that women can be very good coaches as well.”
- Murray praises his coach Amelie Mauresmo.
- Berdych gracefully accepts defeat.
"I'm really excited to be in the final again, I didn't come here with that expectation so it's really exciting."
- Serena Williams after his semi-final win.
