Murray through to Aussie semis

 

Originally published on: 26/01/11 07:34

Andy Murray ended the dream run of 22-year-old Alexandr Dolgopolov to secure his spot – and a likely clash against Rafael Nadal – in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The Scot, who defeated John Isner, Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic en route to last year’s final, took the first two sets in his quarter-final clash with Dolgopolov and though he dropped the third on a tiebreak, eventually saw out a 7-5 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 triumph.

The pair traded four breaks of serve in the opening set as Dolgopolov, who had upset both Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Robin Soderling en route to the last eight, bid to make the world No.5 his next significant scalp.

Murray managed to break for a third time after a lengthy 12th game – enough to see him through the first set – and scored another early on to earn the second. But Dolgopolov fought back from yet another early break in the third to set proceedings back on serve.

With his fair share of support on Australia Day in Rod Laver Arena – no doubt something to do with the fact that Aussie coach Jack Reader has overseen his career-best Grand Slam run – Dolgopolov then played a storming tie-break to take the contest to a fourth set.

But it was to be Murray’s day and even though his opponent recovered one, two more breaks in the fourth set were enough to see the 23-year-old through to a likely semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal.

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