So that’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow for the final between Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, a match in which the Canadian is unlikely to enjoy the same freedom he had here. It’ll be fascinating to see if McEnroe can devise a tactical plan that will help his charge to contain the Scot. Raonic will surely face a far sterner examination of his serve – not to mention a more arduous test from the baseline – than he did against the labouring Tomic. As for Murray, he looks to be in fine fettle, much as he has been all year. Playing a big server like Cilic was perfect preparation for the challenge that lies ahead, and you wouldn’t bet against him making it five titles, a feat that would eclipse men with the grass-court pedigree of John McEnroe and Boris Becker. That would be some achievement. Thanks for reading and look forward to your company again tomorrow.
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The price of victory for Raonic? A courtside chat with John Inverdale. “It’s great to be able to return tomorrow and play for something big, so I look forward to that challenge,” says Raonic. And what of the super-coach scenario that will pit old foes John Mcenroe and Ivan Lendl against one another? “That’s for you guys to talk about, not for me to worry about,” says the Canadian, perhaps not too keen to add further fuel to that fire.
Game, set and match Raonic, 6-4, 6-4!
Second set: Tomic 4-6, 4-5 Raonic* (*denotes server)
As the clock strikes the hour mark, Raonic fires down two consecutive aces to bring up a couple of match points. Tomic saves the first, a solid return eliciting a netted forehand from Raonic, but a humongous serve-and-forehand routine seals the deal for Raonic. That was a clinical performance.
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Second set: Tomic* 4-6, 4-5 Raonic (*denotes server)
Credit to Tomic, who wraps up the hold in mere seconds to force Raonic to serve for the victory. It’s a measure of the kind of match it’s been that a few people in the crowd are asleep. Will Raonic care? Not a bit.
Second set: Tomic 4-6, 3-5 Raonic* (*denotes server)
At 30-40, Raonic faces his first break point of the match and seventh of the week. You probably don’t need me to tell you how things pan out. Tomic reads the serve but can’t return it. An ace whistles past him on the next point before a big, kicking serve sets up an easy volley. Raonic is within a game of the final.
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Second set: Tomic* 4-6, 3-4 Raonic (*denotes server)
Tomic completes a fine hold with a whipped forehand pass, but in many ways that seems less notable than some of the tactics Raonic is employing here. Serves into the body, chip-and-charge routines off his opponent’s second serve, surprise forays into the forecourt – we’re only a few days in to his coaching alliance with John McEnroe, but already the Canadian seems to have more dimensions to his game.
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Second set: Tomic 4-6, 2-4 Raonic* (*denotes server)
A delightful backhand pass on the opening point gives Tomic a sniff, which is more than he’s had in most of Raonic’s service games. But the Canadian is just brutal. Serve after blistering serve whistles down towards the Australian, and within moments the third seed has consolidated the break.
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Second set: Tomic* 4-6, 2-3 Raonic (*denotes server)
Oh dear. Facing two break points at 15-40, Tomic throws in a horrible double-fault. He looks listless, and you can only imagine that back injury is troubling him. He certainly looks to be in physical discomfort at the change of ends. Whatever the problem, this match is passing him by all too quickly.
Second set: Tomic 4-6, 2-2 Raonic* (*denotes server)
Raonic rattles his way swiftly to 40-0, only to be stopped in his tracks by a double-fault. No matter: a big serve, a brief rally, and Tomic swats a forehand wide. He needs to be tougher than that, the rangy righty.
Second set: Tomic* 4-6, 2-1 Raonic (*denotes server)
A good hold from Tomic, who has served well by and large. He just needs to keep his nose in front and hope he can conjure something against the Raonic serve.
Second set: Tomic 4-6, 1-1 Raonic* (*denotes server)
As Raonic romps to another hold, it’s hard to know what Tomic can do to start making an impression against the serve. He’s been struggling with a back injury that has apparently required injections, and that won’t be helping. But could he alter his position, take the serve earlier or deeper? Something needs to change.
Second set: Tomic* 4-6, 1-0 Raonic (*denotes server)
He’s not the most charismatic player, Milos Raonic, but he certainly has all the tools of the trade. A forehand winner at 30-15 followed by some lovely approach play, culminating with a winning forehand volley, bring up break point. What Raonic perhaps lacks is the metronomic consistency of a Djokovic or a Murray, a point highlighted when he squanders the chance with a wayward approach shot. Tomic recovers well, sealing the game with a forehand winner, and that’s an important hold for the Aussie.
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Milos Raonic wins the first set 6-4!
First set: Tomic 4-6 Raonic* (*denotes server)
Classic grass-court tennis from Milos Raonic: hold serve, bide your time until the business end of the set, break, hold. Pete Sampras, eat your heart out.
Our man at Queen’s Club, Kevin Mitchell, has filed his report on Andy Murray’s win over Marin Cilic. You can read it by following the link below.
First set: Tomic* 4-5 Raonic (*denotes server)
A lovely off-backhand return winner – think Boris Becker circa 1985, but with two hands – sets Raonic on the way to what should prove a set-sealing break of serve. It’s a close-fought thing, though, Tomic digging in to save three break points before succumbing with a netted backhand pass after an angled volley from Raonic. Nice play from the Canadian.
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First set: Tomic 4-4 Raonic* (*denotes server)
Colossal serve, monstrous forehand, deft volley: that’s how Milos Raonic seals his 41st consecutive hold of serve at this tournament. He has yet to be broken – he’s faced just six break points all week, according to the BBC’s Andrew Castle – and in this kind of form he should be a real threat at the All England Club, where he was a semi-finalist two summers ago.
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First set: Tomic* 4-3 Raonic (*denotes server)
And here we see how Tomic could come a cropper in this match. Facing a server of Raonic’s quality, the Aussie can ill-afford to lose concentration, even for a moment. Yet that’s precisely what he does, a couple of loose shots handing Raonic a foothold in the game. Tomic recovers well, guiding home a forehand winner to seal the game to 30, but that’s a warning shot across the bows.
First set: Tomic 3-3 Raonic* (*denotes server)
Long rallies, did I say? None of those to see here. Another ultra-quick hold by Raonic.
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First set: Tomic* 3-2 Raonic (*denotes server)
Tomic doesn’t have the biggest serve in the world, but what he does have is variety, placement and depth. Those attributes are working in his favour so far as he holds again to keep pace with Raonic. It’ll be interesting to see how the contest evolves because, while the Canadian certainly has the edge in terms of sheer weight of shot, Tomic has more options from the back. Raonic probably won’t want to get involved in too many long rallies.
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First set: Tomic 2-2 Raonic*(*denotes server)
Winding up an elaborately long swing, Raonic swats home a short return to hold to 15. It followed an absolutely booming second serve. The Canadian may have hired McEnroe to help him at the net during the grass-court season, but how many volleys he’ll actually have to hit is debatable. That serve is truly enormous.
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First set: Tomic* 2-1 Raonic (*denotes server)
Another convincing hold from Tomic, who was involved in a bizarre third set against Gilles Müller of Luxembourg last night. Not always noted as the grittiest of competitors, Tomic enjoyed the novel experience of facing an opponent who was barely in contention for long stretches. He can expect a very different match today.
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First set: Tomic 1-1 Raonic* (*denotes server)
It’s a case of anything you can do, as Raonic likewise makes short of his opening service game. Sitting at courtside, the Canadian’s coach, John McEnroe, looks happy. For now.
First set: Tomic* 1-0 Raonic (*denotes server)
Watched by Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios, Tomicic races through his opening service game, sealing it to love.
We’re about to get underway, Tomic to serve …
Raonic and Tomic are limbering up, and it promises to be a fascinating match. The pair have played three times previously, with Raonic, the world No9 – he has been as high as fourth – winning all three. Tomic, of course, has a reputation for being a flaky competitor, but there’s no doubting his talent.
Stay right here for coverage of the second semi-final between Milos Raonic, the powerful Canadian who reached the Australian Open final at the start of the year, and the mercurial Ausssie Bernard Tomic. The players will be out shortly.
That was quite a finish. Where Murray found the energy to take the opening point of that final game, I really don’t know. Cilic drew him in, forced him back, ran him from side to side, but still couldn’t find a way through, Murray running down everything the Croatian could throw at him. That was pretty much the story of the entire match. Cilic maintained a high level throughout – and played superbly towards the end of the second set – but Murray was always able to find a response. He also showed the kind of aggression, both on serve and, particularly, on his forehand, that he is so often accused of lacking. A fifth title looks well within his sights.
Murray is talking to John Inverdale at courtside, poor lad. “It’s great to get to the final again,” he says. And the prospect of a record-breaking fifth title? “There have been many great players that have played here over the years … some of the best players of all time … if I can do better than them, that’s a good sign.”
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Game, set and match Murray! He wins 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Third set: Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
After a lung-busting opening point – of which more in a second – Murray wins through to the final, sealing the victory with an ace!
Third set: Cilic* 3-5, 6-4, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
“It seems that Andy Murray has a square mouth,” writes Andrew Benton. “Contrast this left/right symmetry with Djokovic’s twisty face, and it’s clear that facial symmetry is a hindrance to grand slam victory. Andy needs to loosen up his facial muscles a bit.” I’m not sure if you’re right, Andrew, but – if so – I can’t see Lendl being much help. Not that Murray needs too much assistance here, because he’s just come within a whisker of winning through to yet another Queen’s final, Cilic saving a match point with an ace. It was great stuff from the Croatian, who was repeatedly pegged back to deuce but produced some lovely winners – a drop shot that kissed the line, two blistering forehands, and finally a winning backhand pass – to stay in the hunt.
Third set: Cilic 2-5, 6-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
He’s still chuntering and chattering, is Murray, but that doesn’t stop him from flying through this service game to move within a game of the match. His first-serve percentage in this set is 77%, which explains why he’s lost barely a point on his delivery (two, if I’m not mistaken). Cilic will have to serve to stay in it.
Third set: Cilic* 2-4, 6-4, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
“Hit the ball!” screams Murray, imploringly, after Cilic runs down a poor drop shot to slot home a winner on the opening point. The outburst doesn’t seem to help him, Cilic rattling off the game to love in double quick time. Still, the Scot’s rage for perfection will be assisted by the new balls in the next game. Chin up, Andy.
Third set: Cilic 1-4, 6-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
Murray in a hurry. He takes barely 60 seconds to move within a couple of games of the final. Brutal efficiency from the Scot.
Third set: Cilic* 1-3, 6-4, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
Cilic pounds down an ace to seal a fine hold. He’s still just about in contention, but the momentum in this match – both physical and mental – remains firmly with Murray.
Third set: Cilic 0-3, 6-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
Murray jams his foot on the accelerator to leave Cilic choking on dust, a powerful display of serving bringing real heat to what is a cold afternoon in west London. A tremendous response to the loss of that second set.
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Third set: Cilic* 0-2, 6-4, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
There was a real touch of the Lendls about the scorching forehand winner that Murray slammed beyond the onrushing Cilic to take the first point, and it sets him up beautifully for an artfully constructed break. A deep, deep forehand at 15-30 draws a mishit from the Croatian, and Murray seals the break at the first time of asking, chipping a forehand return to the Cilic shoelaces. It was a long way to stoop for the taller man, and he makes a real hash of the half-volley. Lovely play from Murray. So lovely, in fact, that it has Lendl on his feet.
Third set: Cilic 0-1, 6-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
As Murray towels off at the change of ends, Lendl and Delgado are locked in conversation. Penny for your thoughts, Ivan? There’s no question that Cilic got hot towards the end of that set, and his increased aggression paid off handsomely. But Murray looked ruffled, and it’s hard to imagine that Lendl will be happy about that. Still, Murray gets back on an even keel here, holding to 15-15 despite a horrible double-fault on the second point of the game. If things continue in this vein, we’re in for an absorbing decider.
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Cilic wins the second set 6-4 to square the match!
Second set: Cilic* 6-4, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
At 30-15, Murray gets everything behind a two-fisted backhand return, punishing a short second serve with a flashing winner. But it’s not enough for the Scot. Cilic sends down a punishing first serve to bring up set point, Murray goes long with a backhand, and it’s all square.
Second set: Cilic 5-4, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
Murray overcomes his inner demons and some fine returning from Cilic to hold, but with Cilic to serve he’s still staring down the barrel in this second set. Watch this space …
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Second set: Cilic* 5-3, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
As Cilic executes a deft drop volley to stave off break point at 30-40, Murray emits a cry of anguish. You can feel his pain, too, because three break points have passed him by and, as if that weren’t bad enough, someone in the crowd has just said something to which he took exception. He holds a silencing finger to his lips, but Cilic is the man wielding a silencer just now. Half an hour ago his challenge was looking increasingly shaky; now he’s within a game of squaring the match.
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Second set: Cilic 4-3, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
Hold the back page, what’s this? A break of the Murray serve? It is! Some great attacking play from Cilic reaps dividends when a stinging approach forces the Scot to go wide on break point. Murray’s been looking a little unsettled for a good few minutes now, his mood not helped by a few bad bounces, and that could – perhaps should, given the weight of the Cilic serve – spell the demise of his second-set challenge.
Second set: Cilic* 3-3, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
A lovely exhibition of grass-court play carries Cilic to a comfortable hold, drawing encouraging applause from Ivanisevic in the front row. You’ve got to love Goran, who wears the permanent expression of a man who’s just been asked to work out the square root of 357,654,000.
Second set: Cilic 2-3, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
At 15-0, the point of the match; make no mistake, you’ll be seeing this one again on highlights packages and whatnot. First off, Murray sends Cilic scrambling with a drop shot; not headline news, I grant you, but the Croatian runs it down and slices an approach deep down the line to the Murray forehand. The Scot replies with a textbook lob over the backhand side, but the 6ft 6in Cilic is not an easy man to lob. He flicks a lovely backhand overhead across the face of the net and, although the fleet-footed Murray runs it down, the Croatian stoops to volley home a winner. It’s all to no avail ultimately – Murray goes on to hold well with some emphatic serving – but what an exchange.
Second set: Cilic* 2-2, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
At 15-0, Cilic pounds down a serve that’s about a foot long. There is no call. Murray challenges, but he’s already used up his allotted quota for this set, and the call stands. He’s not a happy bunny. Seizing the moment, Cilic holds to love.
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Second set: Cilic 1-2, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
If you were trying to gauge what Lendl has brought to the Murray game this week, you would immediately alight on the newfound venom of his forehand. The Scot has been absolutely pounding them in this match, particularly on the cross-court, and he does so again at deuce to bring up another chance to seal a hold that he should probably already have in the bag. The opportunity goes begging, however, and moments later it’s Cilic who has break point. Murray ups the ante on his serve, two good deliveries staving off the danger, and puts the game to bed with another peach of a cross-court forehand. The crowd erupts in delight; Lendl twitches an eyebrow. Or perhaps not. It’s hard to be sure, what with the shades and all.
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Second set: Cilic* 1-1, 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
Needing a hold to reclaim a say in the proceedings, Cilic works his way to 40-30, at which point Murray appears to stop him in his tracks with a brilliant backhand return that sizzles past the Croatian almost before he has finished his service motion. To the fifth seed’s immense relief, however, it’s out. Just. Neither player is at his best just now – they’re both missing some makable shots – but Cilic will be happy to be on the second-set scoreboard.
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Second set: Cilic 0-1, 3-6 Murray* (*denotes server)
It’ll be interesting to see how much Cilic has left in the tank. He played six sets on Friday, seeing off Steve Johnson in a tight quarter-final win before going the distance again in the doubles, where he lost alongside compatriot Marin Draganja. Will the heavy workload tell? He certainly looks leggy as he goes up for an overhead at 30-15 on the Murray serve, flicking the ball wide to leave the top seed firmly in charge.
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Murray wins the first set 6-3!
First set: Cilic* 3-6 Murray (*denotes server)
The clouds are gathering overhead, and in particular over the head of Marin Cilic. An error-strewn start to the game sees him fall 0-40 down in the blink of an eye, and Murray reaps full advantage. Scrambling wide to his forehand on the first of the three set points, Murray loops a lovely cross-court pass beyond the reach of the Croatian to take a giant stride towards the final.
First set: Cilic 3-5 Murray* (*denotes server)
With half an hour gone and the benefit of the new balls, Murray sends down two mighty serves to go 30-0 up. A lamentable drop shot follows – he gets it horribly wrong, over-slicing the ball so that it barely reaches the net – but recovers to move within a game of the set. Testing times for Cilic now.
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First set: Cilic* 3-4 Murray (*denotes server)
Cilic is not out of this opening set yet, not by a long shot. Witness the absolute howitzer of a backhand with which he seals a love hold: it sizzles down the line before Murray can move a muscle. Impressive stuff.
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First set: Cilic 2-4 Murray* (*denotes server)
Unbelievable! Ivan Lendl has just LAUGHED. Yes, you read that right. He was passing a water bottle to Jamie Delgado in the stands, and he broke into a big, toothy grin. And that was before Murray held to 15 with some slick serving and lovely footwork off a low forehand. Hilarious they are, those modern water bottles.
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First set: Cilic* 2-3 Murray (*denotes server)
That slightly wobbly service game notwithstanding, Murray looks determined to carry the fight to Cilic. As if to underline the point, he starts the game with a brilliant cross-court pass that leaves Cilic, even with his huge wingspan, flailing at the net. But the Croatian recovers with some good serving as his coach Goran Ivanisevic, arms folded tightly, looks on approvingly. Meanwhile, Lendl looks on through dark shades. Is he asleep? If not, does he like what he’s seen so far? Your guess is as good as mine.
First set: Cilic 1-3 Murray* (*denotes server)
A break is only as a good as a hold in the next game, and Murray gets the job done. Just. After a cagey exchange of sliced backhands at 15-15, Cilic sneaks in behind a forehand approach, Murray going wide with his backhand pass. He earns a temporary reprieve through an overrule at 15-30, and another with a net cord at 15-40 after Cilic has claimed the replayed point, but it takes a bludgeoning forehand winner to get him back to deuce. A short second serve is nailed by Cilic to bring up a fourth break point, only for the obdurate Murray to strike back with another big forehand. A fifth break point goes begging courtesy of a penetrating serve down the middle from Murray, and that paves the way for a battling hold as the top seed finds a couple of good deliveries. Murray comes through his first real test of the match.
First set: Cilic* 1-2 Murray (*denotes server)
Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first break of the match. It comes courtesy of some fine defensive scrambling by the Scot, who claws back ball after ball – and returns with real potency – to draw a string of errors from Cilic. In the stands, Lendl signals his approval with the slightest hint of a blink. Although I could be mistaken.
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First set: Cilic 1-1 Murray* (*denotes server)
The opening point sees Cilic go wide with a slingshot forehand after gaining the upper hand in a brief baseline exchange. Murray quickly snuffs out the danger with some good serving – including an ace of his own – but at 40-0 he seems to think he’s back at Roland Garros, where he was the finalist a couple of weeks ago, throwing in a drop shot that Cilic comfortably runs down before sliding away a forehand winner. A baseline error follows but the Scot then steadies the ship, holding to 30.
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First set: Cilic* 1-0 Murray (*denotes server)
Murray battles hard to claim the opening point against serve, and then must wish he hadn’t bothered. Cilic bangs down a sequence of booming serves, punctuated by a couple of aces, to pocket the opening game comfortably. No sign of nerves there from the big man.
Now here’s a bit of breaking news: over at the grass-court warm-up event in Halle, a tournament Roger Federer has made his personal fiefdom over the years, the great Swiss has been beaten by the up-and-coming German teenager Alexander Zverev. Is the old order changing? Murray will be hoping not. We’re about to get underway, with Cilic to serve first.
Talking of super coaches – and frankly, who isn’t this week? – the second semi-final will feature Milos Raonic, who has John McEnroe in his corner, against Bernard Tomic, who seems to have newfound resolve this week under the watchful eye of Lleyton Hewitt. Now I wonder why that could be?
The players are just strolling out of the clubhouse at Queen’s Club, with Murray’s arrival on court greeted by plenty of British voices yelling “Come on Andy”. It’s looking a little overcast in west London, but so far today the rain has held off. Let’s hope it stays that way. Nonetheless, there’s certainly moisture in the air, and the conditions will ensure the ever-zippy centre court at Queen’s plays fast. That perhaps favours Cilic more but, let’s face it, grey skies are hardly alien to a man born in Dunblane.
So what should we expect?
Nobody enjoys facing a big server on grass, and few players pose a greater test with ball in hand than Marin Cilic. The Croatian is capable of sending down his first serve at more than 130mph, but the greater danger for Murray lies in the placement, consistency and variety of his opponent’s delivery. Over the past year, Cilic has hit 4.8 aces for every double fault, a superb ratio by any standard, and has the all-round firepower to trouble any player in the world on a grass court. That said, Murray is no slouch on the green stuff either and, like Cilic, he’ll be looking to dominate with the serve, an area of his game that has looked solid all year, as well as from the baseline. You don’t reach two consecutive grand slam finals in this era without serving to telling effect, and the Scot’s second delivery, in particular, has improved significantly. Couple that with one of the best returns in the game, and an ability to counter-punch that is arguably the best in the sport, and he should have enough to nullify the Cilic game if he plays well. That was certainly the case when the two squared up in the 2013 final, where Murray defeated Cilic – defending champion at the time – in three tight sets. The Scot can also draw encouragement from a 10-2 winning record against Cilic that includes four wins on grass.
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to semi-final day at Queen’s Club, where Ivan Lendl faces Goran Ivanisevic in what promises to be … Wait. Forgive me. That was 24 years ago at Wimbledon, wasn’t it? Andy Murray, that’s who it is. Andy Murray against Marin Cilic – the big-serving, 13th-ranked Croatian who won the title here three summers ago – in a battle of former US Open champions, to be precise. Still, it’s an easy mistake to make these days, what with this being the era of the super coach and all. In case you’ve been too absorbed by the football to notice, earlier in the week Murray reunited with former coach Lendl, the former world No1 under whose granite-faced guidance he won two majors, and very good he looks for it, too. Murray, the top seed, came through an absorbing three-set quarter-final against fellow Brit Kyle Edmund on Friday, in the process finding his best form of the week.
Even so, with Cilic seemingly starting to fire on all cylinders again, don’t expect a swaggering Murray march to the final. Despite a chequered year that, until this week, had brought only four more wins than losses, the Croatian is clearly happy to feel the grass beneath his feet again and, in former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, he has his very own A-list coach. “He has played well here, and he serves well,” said Murray, looking ahead to the match. “He is a big guy, has a big reach on the returns, too. He is a good returner. If you look at his stats, often he returns the first serve well throughout the year across all of the surfaces. He’s got good timing on the returns. I played him in the final a couple of years ago and it was a tough match. I think he’s had a few injuries this year. When he’s fit and healthy, he’s always around the top of the game.”
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