Iron-clad defense triumphed over all-out attack yesterday as Andy Murray overhauled Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 to book another Australian Open final against Melbourne Park nemesis Novak Djokovic.
World No. 2 Murray came from behind twice to topple the rangy Canadian, who was troubled by a leg injury and finally capitulated after playing majestically for most of the four-hour and three-minute contest at a flood-lit Rod Laver Arena.
After levelling the match at two sets all, Murray broke Raonic in the opening game of the decider and the flustered 13th seed smashed his racquet in frustration before promptly crumbling.
Photo: AFP
Four-times runner-up Murray roared to a 4-0 lead before closing out the match with a dismissive crosscourt winner to reach his fifth final at Melbourne Park and fourth against the Serbian world No. 1.
“I started to get a slightly better read on his serve later on and that was the key,” said Murray, who was beaten by Djokovic in last year’s final.
“He definitely slowed down in the fifth set for sure, which was unfortunate for him,” he added of Raonic’s injury. “I obviously got a bit lucky on that, but you just try to focus on your side of the court.”
Photo: AP
Murray’s trips to the final have all ended in heartbreak, but he will have taken heart from his fighting comeback and ability to defuse Raonic’s overwhelming power game.
A match pitting one of the game’s finest servers against a returning maestro promised fireworks, but few would have tipped Raonic to break his opponent to love in the opening game.
The 25-year-old saved three break points in the next game then held the advantage to close out the set with a huge serve down the “T.”
Having missed break point chances at 1-0 and 3-2 in the second set, Murray had to bide his time, but he kicked the door open with a brilliant crosscourt passing shot to set up a set point at 6-5.
The Canadian chanced a serve-volley, but netted Murray’s sharp return and the Scot pumped his fist in delight.
The tension kept rising as the third set went into a tiebreak, and Raonic pounced on a weak serve from Murray to take a 3-1 lead.
Serving masterfully, Raonic rocketed a smash that clipped the line to reach 5-2 before closing out the 58-minute set with an ace.
Though the Rod Laver Arena rumbled with the threat of an upset, Raonic barely celebrated and marched straight off court.
He exited again after holding serve to lead 2-1 for a medical time-out on a leg injury, but he jogged back out onto court and appeared untroubled.
That was until the seventh game, when he was broken to love in an error-strewn game as Murray ramped up his returning game.
Raonic grimaced as he had his right leg worked on by a trainer after holding serve to trail 5-4, but he shrugged off the injury to raise two chances to break back.
Murray saved them both and blasted a serve down the “T” to level the match.
Having appeared composed, Raonic finally showed the strain and smashed his racquet into the court after being swiftly broken in the opening game of the decider.
From there the sting went out of the contest as Murray’s laser-sharp focus allowed him to roar to a 4-0 lead.
The Scot struck an exquisite backhand volley to bring up three match points and after hammering the winning crosscourt forehand, savored one of his finest wins at Melbourne Park.
In the earlier women’s doubles final, the No. 1-ranked team of Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat the Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (1), 6-3 to extend their winning streak to 36 matches on the way to a third Grand Slam title together.
Hingis and Mirza won the Wimbledon and US Open titles last year.
Mirza could not extend her run in mixed doubles, losing with her partner Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 7-6 (4) to Elena Vesnina and Soares in the semi-finals later yesterday.
Vesnina and Soares are scheduled to play American Coco Vandeweghe and Horia Tecau of Romania in tomorrow’s final.
Additional reporting by AP
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