ANDY MURRAY “PROUD” AFTER SEMI-FINAL WIN OVER BERDYCH

Written by: Staff on 30th January 2015

ANDY MURRAY "PROUD" AFTER SEMI-FINAL WIN OVER BERDYCH

epa04593011 Andy Murray of Britain reacts during play against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their semi-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs until 01 February 2015 EPA/MADE NAGI |

Andy Murray’s point in the direction of his box after punching his ticket to a fourth Australian Open final on Thursday seemed to say it all.

The Scot’s camp could breathe a sigh of relief after watching Murray defeat World No. 7 Tomas Berdych 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling semi-final match that featured equal parts drama and intensity.

Andy Murray of Britain in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their semi-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/MADE NAGI

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in action against Andy Murray of Britain in their semi-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/Made Nagi

“I played very, very well tonight,” Murray said of his 15th major semi-final match. “To be in the final four times here, I mean, because I’m surrounded by guys like Roger [Federer], Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal], doesn’t look like much, but that doesn’t happen that often. So I’m very proud of that.”

After finishing as the Australian Open runner-up in 2010 (l. to Federer), 2011 (l. to Djokovic) and 2013 (l. to Djokovic), the 27 year old has a chance to become the first man in Open Era history to win the title in Melbourne after losing three finals.

In order to clinch that opportunity for redemption, Murray managed to execute a jarring momentum shift against Berdych after losing the first-set tie-break. The Scot reeled off six straight games, effectively setting the tone for the remainder of the nearly four-hour contest.

Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their semi finals match at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2015. EPA/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

“At the start I felt like I was on the back foot a little bit,” he said. “Towards the end of the first set I started to come into it more, be more aggressive. Then, in the second set, I just picked up from how I was playing at the end of the first.”

In reaching his eighth Grand Slam title match, the right-hander is just two major finals away from matching Fred Perry for the most appearances by a British man in a Grand Slam final. With the win, he also becomes the first No. 6 seed to reach a major final since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open title. The last No. 6 seed to reach the final in Melbourne was Andre Agassi in 2001.

Prior to the match, both Berdych and Murray were asked to comment on the Dunblane native’s former assistant coach, Dani Vallverdu, who began working with Berdych at the beginning of the year. Afterward, Murray was keen to laud the successes of his current coach, Amelie Mauresmo.

“A lot of people were criticising her at the end of last year, like the way I was playing was her fault when I’d spent two weeks training with her up to the end of the year,” he explained. “You can’t change things during tournaments. There was very little time to spend with each other. There’s no reason for her to be criticized.

“I’m just very happy for her that I won the match tonight.”

Murray will next face the winner of World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Australian Open defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

(Courtesy of the ATP and Original Post – http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/4/Australian-Open-Thursday-Andy-Murray-Reaction.aspx )

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Australian Open, Berdych, Tennis