Andy Murray survives early scare; moves into second straight final of Australian Open
2010 Australian Open finalist, Andy Murray, has made it into his second straight final at Melbourne Park after successfully dismissing Spaniard, David Ferrer, in a four set win.
The Brit is six years younger than Ferrer and is less experienced. However, Murray currently holds a higher position in the world rankings. Both players have enjoyed top form so far this season and have won all their matches in 2011. Murray came in to the
Australian Open straight from competing in the Hopman Cup, were he partnered with Laura Robson. Although Britain failed to make it into the final of the event, Murray won all of his three rubbers. Similarly, Ferrer also enjoyed a successful run at the Heineken
Open in Auckland. He started the year with a title win against Gilles Simon.
Melbourne Park saw both players move up the brackets in fine form. On route to the quarterfinals, Murray toppled Karol Beck, Guillermo Lopez and Jurgen Melzer. He met Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarter-final and was able to do away with him in a four set
win.
Ferrer had his own set of victories. He bounced back from being one set down against the rising Canadian star, Milos Raonic. Ferrer upset compatriot, friend and world number one, Rafael Nadal in the quarters. It is note-worthy that Nadal was injured before
the match and did not play his best.
Both contenders made it to the semi-final round healthy and motivated. However, when they went toe to toe with each other, hard court specialist Murray prevailed against the Spaniard. Murray came into the match with a 2-0 lead in the pair’s previous encounters
on hard courts. Not wanting to give up his perfect lead, Murray was able to bounce back from being one set down to secure a four set win over the Ferrer.
A neck to neck run in the first set, Ferrer was able to break Murray’s service in the ninth game, capitalising on an unforced error by the Brit. After taking a 5-4 lead, Ferrer wrapped up the first set 6-4 on his service. The second set was also intense
with Murray pushing the set into a tiebreaker, where he almost instantly took a 5-0 lead before winning the tiebreaker 7-2.
Leveling the score at 1-1, Murray seemed to have broken Ferrer’s spirits as he clinched a breadstick win in the third set with minimal resistance from the Spaniard. Enjoying a 2-1 lead in the set score, Murray needed to win one more set to get through to
the final. Fighting back in the fourth set, Ferrer was able to push the set into a tiebreaker though he failed again to hit any winners and lost the second tiebreaker 2-7.
Murray commented after winning the match, "It was a very tough match tonight. I expected a very, very tough match. It was a little bit up and down I thought. I changed my tactics well in the second and third sets. I served well in both of [the tie-breaks].
I went for my shots. I got off to a good start in both really. That always makes a big difference in the tie-breaks. It's not like the first set I felt like I played badly. It was just I had my chance in the first set; didn't take it. It's going to happen
in a five-set match against someone as good as him."
In a match that lasted almost three and a half hours, Murray hit sixty winners including nine aces. Murray lost 61 of 151 points and converted 6 of 11 break points to make his way into the final. He will be playing the talented Novak Djokovic in the final
on Sunday.
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