It was a tactically perfect match from Andy Murray and he is looking very good indeed. He spooked Kyrgios with his slice and careful shot-making, he served expertly and he came up with the goods when he needed to, especially with those two lobs in the second-set tie-break. Kyrgios gave it his best shot and he has a big future, but this was a step too far for him. He’ll learn from it and improve. But it’s Murray’s day. He’s into his 15th grand slam semi-final and he will play Tomas Berdych on Thursday. It won’t be easy. Berdych will be buzzing after his straight-sets win over Rafael Nadal and he has a 6-4 winning record over Murray. It’s a repeat of the 2012 US Open semi-final, though, and you might remember that Murray won that match in four sets. Anyway. Thanks for reading and emailing. I’ll see you tomorrow - in the meantime, here’s Kevin Mitchell’s report from Rod Laver Arena. Bye.
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What does Murray have to say? “It was a tricky match. I tried to start as quickly aspossible because i know how dangerous Nick is. I’ve followed him. I know what he’s capable of. I wasn’t going to underestimate him at all. He’s a huge hitter so I tried to keep it out of his strike zone but it was very windy so if you use the slice and keep the ball low, it makes it very tricky.”
Then comes a nice touch, as he comes across like a big brother while offering some astute support and advice for Kyrgios. “I think the first thing is to try not to put too much pressure on him,” he says. “He needs to be allowed to mature and develop and he’s going to make some mistakes. He’s young. Growing up in the spotlight isn’t easy. He has a world-class serve. An easy motion so he doesn’t put any stress on his body. I think he could be a little more intense at times. He has an extremely good forehand. But not many people have done what he’s done at his age. Making two quarter-finals at grand slams as a teenager is rare. So he’s done great.
Next up it’s Tomas Berdych for Andy Murray. “A big match,” Murray says. “He’s played extremely well so far. He hasn’t lost a set so it’s going to be another tough match.”
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ANDY MURRAY BEATS NICK KYRGIOS 6-3, 7-6, 6-3!
Murray has to make it dramatic, doesn’t he? He loses the first point with a rubbish forehand past the baseline. A magnificent, stooping backhand makes it 15-all, however, and Kyrgios then slashes a backhand wide to make it 30-15. His challenge appears to be almost over. Has he got anything left in the tank? As it stands, he appears to be in need of a good lie-down. Even his grunts are weary and Murray earns two match points with a forehand winner, Kyrgios barely able to move. He tries to summon one last burst as Murray pings forehand after forehand into the corner, but eventually a short ball from Kyrgios leaves him exposed and Murray isn’t about to miss with this forehand. He fires it into the corner and Kyrgios really is cooked. Andy Murray is into the Australian Open semi-final!
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Third set: Murray 6-3, 7-6, 5-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Murray lost his focus, didn’t he? He’s given Kyrgios a lifeline and the crowd something to cling on to. He skips merrily into a 30-0 lead - but then a moment of controversy when Kyrgios stops and claims a Murray shot was out, only for the umpire to say it was too late to challenge. 30-15 becomes 30-all when cracking defence from Murray ends with a sumptuous forehand pass. They go to deuce and Murray earns a break point with a flicked forehand past a forlorn Kyrgios. Kyrgios cracks. Murray goes on the offensive, pulling Kyrgios back and forth across the baseline, as if he has him on a string, and Kyrgios nets a tired forehand. Murray will serve for the match.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 4-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Serving at 15-30, Murray waits a moment while a ball kid removes a bug from the court. Then he uses BUG POWER to win the point with a deft backhand volley, only to miss a two-handed backhand and give Kyrgios his first break point of the match. Kyrgios frames his return but incredibly it lands in - and Kyrgios darts forward and stands with his racquet over the net as Murray slams the ball back over. The two share a laugh. But only for a moment. Murray soon has to deal with another break point when he nets a forehand. And then he nets a drop-shot! Kyrgios breaks! It’s not over yet! It’s still on! Even though Kyrgios is, by his own admission, cooked.
Third set: Murray 6-3, 7-6, 4-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Remember the tweener from Kyrgios against Nadal at Wimbledon? He tries it here. But it’s a rushed attempt and he hits the net. How disappointing. He leads 40-15. But a couple of errors helps Murray back to deuce, before a double-fault gives Murray a break point. Kyrgios has lost three consecutive points. “I’m cooked,” Kyrgios says. His energy levels do seem to be dropping and although he saves the break point, Murray soon has another. Kyrgios saves that. But Murray earns another with a superb forehand return. Kyrgios attacks. He slams a forehand into the corner - but somehow Murray manages to loop an outstanding defensive lob over him and although Kyrgios races back and outrageously gets the ball back over the net with a tweener, Murray is waiting to polish him off with a volley. That could be the decisive break. Kyrgios is swaying, Murray is gliding.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 3-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios changes his approach with a charge to the net that ends with him directing a forehand volley past Murray for a 0-15 lead and he controls the next rally as well. It’s 0-30. Is it to be a break point at last. Well, not yet. A pinpoint volley from Murray makes it 15-30 and then Kyrgios nets a forehand return to make it 30-all. Kyrgios shoulders slump. He looks like he’s about to shout that he wishes he’d never been born and he hates Murray. And solid serving from Murray seals the game in his favour.
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Third set: Murray 6-3, 7-6, 2-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): There’s no sign of a break from either player at the start of this third set - and, without wishing to sound patronising, well done to Kyrgios for not allowing the second-set tie-break to get to him. It would be easy for him to wilt. Instead he holds to love thanks to an ace.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 2-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): I can’t remember the last time Murray served this well in a big match. He’s been impeccable. He holds to 15 and, at the moment, Kyrgios can’t get close to Murray’s serve. He might be disappointed with the way he’s returning, though, particularly on the forehand side.
Third set: Murray 6-3, 7-6, 1-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): A sloppy game from Murray. He had a chance for a 0-15 lead with a drive volley, but plonked it into the net, and that was it from there. Kyrgios holds.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 7-6, 1-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Nick Kyrgios will think back to the way he came back from two sets down against Andreas Seppi. He also did it against Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon last year, saving nine match points that day. So he’s not a quitter. But he’s going to need every last drop of resolve to come back from this position. Get this: Andy Murray is not Andreas Seppi and Andy Murray is not Richard Gasquet. “Great few points from Andy – he certainly has his lob on at the moment,” parps Will White.
ANDY MURRAY WINS THE SECOND SET 7-6; HE LEADS 6-3, 7-6
Second-set tie-break: Murray 7-5 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): A stunning backhand lob from Murray seals the second set! What a time to produce that! Though it’s not quite as good as that lob in the middle of the tie-break. Either way, it’s a good lob. And a precious lob.
Lob.
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Second-set tie-break: Murray* 6-5 Kyrgios (*denotes server): A clever bouncer off a second serve from Murray forces Kyrgios to knock a backhand well wide. It’s set point.
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 5-5 Kyrgios (*denotes server): A Murray second serve goes long! Kyrgios had to challenge, though. That’s Murray’s first double fault.
Second-set tie-break: Murray 5-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): A great return from Murray leads to a stiff forehand past the baseline from Kyrgios.
Second-set tie-break: Murray 4-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Murray responds with a preposterous top-spin lob!
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 3-4 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios roars as Murray blocks a backhand wide! Suddenly this is his to lose!
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 3-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios wallops a forehand long. He hits himself on the head with his racquet.
Second-set tie-break: Murray 2-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios takes advantage of a Murray backhand clipping the net and pulls out the drop-shot! The pressure is on Murray.
Second-set tie-break: Murray 2-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios finds his range with a difficult low forehand!
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 2-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios gets the mini-break back with some powerful play, an excellent stabbed volley and a smash at the net!
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 2-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Murray bangs down an ace.
Second-set tie-break: Murray* 1-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios nets a forehand.
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Second set: Murray* 6-3, 6-6 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Murray allowed himself a chuckle at that drop-shot from Kyrgios, but then it’s down to the serious business of staying in the second set and forcing a tie-break. Kyrgios tries it again on the first point of this game, but this time it doesn’t come off and Murray doesn’t look back; another ace does the job. We’ll have a tie-break.
Second set: Murray 6-3, 5-6 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Murray is annoyed himself when he approaches the net and sends a backhand slice past the baseline. Is his concentration wavering? On the next point, he misfires badly with a simple forehand volley, thrashing it long, and that gives Kyrgios the encouragement to go for his shots and make it 40-0 with a calm forehand. Murray knuckles down, winning two consecutive points, but Kyrgios holds him off with an audaciously, feathery drop-shot that he disguised brilliantly. What skill! What nerve! That was the equivalent of a Tomas Rosicky no-look pass.
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Second set: Murray* 6-3, 5-5 Kyrgios (*denotes server): The atmosphere is building as the players ready themselves for this crucial game and Kyrgios goes for broke on the first point, ramming a return down the line but missing by inches. 15-0. Two more forehand errors make it 40-0. An ace seals Murray’s second love game in a row on serve.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 4-5 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios holds to love! Murray will serve to stay in the second set!
Second set: Murray* 6-3, 4-4 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Murray has new balls. New tennis balls. He likes them. He holds to love, his eighth ace of the match doing the job.
Second set: Murray 6-3, 3-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): A double-fault from Kyrgios gives Murray a platform at 0-15, but he’ll be annoyed with himself for missing, by his standards, an easy forehand pass. Kyrgios was exposed. An escape. Kyrgios then celebrates like he’s won the tournament when Murray sends a return long - “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!” - but Murray outlasts him on the next point for 30-all. But Kyrgios holds. At 40-30, he finally reads a Murray drop-shot and rattles a forehand down the line. He might be starting to think that he can take this set.
Rod Laver #stylin in his own stadium (in front of some dude from INXS cc @JacobSteinberg pic.twitter.com/wDZbyJk7QO
— Nancy Ganz (@nancyarts) January 27, 2015
Second set: Murray* 6-3, 3-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios seems to struggle with his defensive backhand; he nets a lot when Murray forces him to use that shot. Soon Murray leads 40-0. An accurate forehand seals a hold to love.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 2-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Murray is making Kyrgios move so much. He’s a good mover. But this is a lot of moving to get through. That said, Kyrgios is starting to find his range with his forehand and a thumper at 15-all forces Murray to lob wide. A big serve makes it 40-15, before Murray hooks a forehand wide. Kyrgios has steadied himself. Meanwhile here are some pictures.
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Second set: Murray* 6-3, 2-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): What a time this would be for Kyrgios to break, having survived in that last game. And he senses something might be up when Murray nets a forehand for 0-15. He finds himself in a promising position at 30-all. But then he wastes a good opportunity to earn his break point when he jumps into a short ball from Murray and nets a backhand. That’s a bad miss and Murray shows no mercy with an ace to hold to 30.
“On the subject of unusual statistics (your most recent post but one), here’s a question I was wondering about when I saw the quarterfinal line-up: when was the last time that representatives from four different continents made it to the last eight of a men’s singles Grand Slam?” says Tom Moran. “Given how Europe-dominated the tour has been recently (and I know that five of this year’s eight are still European) it struck me as an unusual thing to see. I wonder if you or any of your readers know the answer!” Not off the top of my head.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 1-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Is Murray finding his 2012-13 level? He screams a backhand down the line to make it 0-15 and then, with his refusal to give the teenager any pace during the long rallies, tricks Kyrgios into another error to make it 0-30. But credit to Kyrgios, who hops back to 30-all with a wonderful forehand, before an ace makes it 40-30. We go to deuce, however, Murray pouncing on a tame second serve, and then it’s a break point for Murray when he hammers a backhand down the line. Can he take it? No! Murray challenges a cross-court Kyrgios forehand, but he knows it was in. You know he knows it was in because he looks at the line and mouths “EFF IT!” Back to deuce. And Kyrgios holds after two Murray shots go long. Relief for the Australian contingent.
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Second set: Murray* 6-3, 1-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): One disappointment for Kyrgios in that first set is that Murray won all of his second serves, which is an unusual statistic. But he attacks this one with the appropriate level of contempt to take a 0-15 lead. Murray narrows his eyes and scoots off into a 30-15 lead, before some shenanigans at the net. Murray drop-shots. Kyrgios drop-shots. Murray lobs. Kyrgios hares off in pursuit of the ball, but can only slash it into the crowd, where a punter takes an outstanding catch. We are in Australia, I suppose. Murray holds to 15.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 0-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): One consolation Kyrgios can take from that first set is that he hit his 100th ace of the tournament during it. And he gathers his thoughts during the sit-down and steels himself for the second set. Soon he’s up 40-0. Just what the tennis doctor ordered. Murray hauls himself back to 40-30 with a cracking backhand pass, but Kyrgios holds thanks to a big serve.
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ANDY MURRAY WINS THE FIRST SET 6-3!
So, Krgyios holds, but here’s Murray serving for the first set. And so far, he’s been impregnable on his serve. They trade backhand errors on the first two points to make it 15-all and then Kyrgios times a forehand badly to make it 30-15. Murray is two points away from the first set. An ace leaves Kyrgios flat-footed and gives him two set points. He couldn’t take two set points in the previous game. Can he take these? He can. And he doesn’t have to work particularly hard for it. A limp Kyrgios backhand sails past the baseline and the first set is in the bag for Andy Murray. He’s played a tactically perfect match so far. Kyrgios needs a rethink.
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First set: Murray 5-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Does Murray ever get challenges right? He calls for Hawkeye on a Kyrgios serve on the first point; obviously it was right on the line. 15-0. But Murray is playing into the wind now and he uses that to his advantage with a couple of dinky drop-shots that Kyrgios batters wide to make it 15-30. Kyrgios fights back to 40-30, but then he has an adrenaline overload with an easy forehand volley that he crunches past the baseline when Murray was out of the picture. Another wild miss gives Murray a set point. Kyrgios thinks he’s out of the woods with an ace down the middle but - hark! - this time Murray gets his challenge right. It was wide. Not to worry, however, because Kyrgios saves it. I can’t remember how, though. I was watching the next point, a tantalising exchange at the net, and had a momentary memory lapse. Let’s just say that Krygios saved the set point. It remains deuce for a while, but then Murray creams a backhand down the line to earn a second set point, only to net a forehand. Deuce. Again. This game is taking a while. But Kyrgios finds a way. A roaring serve and a stonking forehand sees him hold. Just.
First set: Murray* 5-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): How will Kyrgios respond to that setback? He’s up against a great champion, after all, and that great champion is looking ominously commanding from an Australian perspective. More solid serving from Murray sees him hold to 15 and consolidate the break. Kyrgios could be forgiven for feeling downhearted. But here’s the thing: he can’t afford to feel downhearted, or else Murray will run away with this. Kyrgios will serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Murray 4-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Bang! Ace! 15-0! Kyrgios is the anti-Nadal. He wastes no time between serves, darting across the baseline, like some kind of jumping Australian animal. Murray then nets a passive slice, but ups the aggression on the next point, working Kyrgios over and then wrongfooting him with a forehand to make it 30-15. Kyrgios then nets a backhand to make it 30-all; then a forehand into the net gives Murray his first break point. Kyrgios’s response? Bang! Ace! Deuce! Huge sighs of relief across Rod Laver Arena. But then an outstanding return from Murray draws a forehand error from Kyrgios. Another break point. This time, there’s no ace. And it’s a careful point from Murray. He gives Kyrgios no pace to work with and, sure enough, the Australian grows frustrated and pings a forehand wide. Murray has the lead.
First set: Murray* 3-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Murray meets fire with fire, a blistering forehand into the left corner making it 15-0. Murray nets a forehand, but he doesn’t panic. He forces a few errors from Kyrgios to glide into a 40-15 lead and a big serve down the middle is too hot for Kyrgios to handle. This is going quickly.
First set: Murray 2-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios is showing no signs of any nerves. He looks like he belongs. Crunching forehands and huge serves fire him into a 40-0 lead, before Murray picks him off at the net with a forehand to make it 40-15. Kyrgios then misses a wide forehand to make it 40-30, but then he ramps up the power with a serve down the line to keep Murray at bay. “Come on!” he cries, pumping his fist. He’s up for this, it’s fair to say. “Common sense says a whitewash for Andy, but I know he’s going to mess it up bigtime, especially if there’s lots of sledging from the crowd,” says Andrew Benton. I fancy Murray in three or four, but I was on Centre Court when Kyrgios beat Nadal, so nothing would surprise me with this kid.
First set: Murray* 2-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Murray continues to serve brilliantly. An ace to make it 40-0 is greeted by a Murray chant from the lads wearing the choreographed A-N-D-Y t-shirts. Murray is clearly boosted by their support and produces another ace to hold to love.
Hey @JacobSteinberg - current front row view of wonder from down under rocking his fleuro. Murray all the way though. pic.twitter.com/olmNwpG9cX
— Nancy Ganz (@nancyarts) January 27, 2015
First set: Murray 1-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Murray seeks to take the pace out of the first rally with a series of slices, but Kyrgios doesn’t flinch and goes up 15-0 when Murray drifts a backhand past the baseline. An ace makes it 30-0, before Murray flails at a big serve. Murray nets a forehand on the final point and Kyrgios will be even more relaxed. If that’s possible. He’s a cool guy.
First set: Murray* 1-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Play! It’s Andy Murray to open the serving. During the warm-up, Kyrgios tried to return one of Murray’s serves and got aced. But he doesn’t get aced here. Instead he engages Murray in a long rally and then rips into a forehand down the line to win the first point. What a start from the youngster, who then finds himself up 0-30 when he reaches a Murray drop-shot and pounds another forehand down the line. The crowd cheers. But Murray responds with three excellent first serves, one of them an ace, to make it 40-30. An ace down the middle seals the holds. A fine response from Murray, but Kyrgios will also be encouraged.
Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re warming up! Soon: tennis.
Nick Kyrgios wins the toss and elects to receive.
Here come the players! Andy Murray, in his black t-shirt, leads them out. Nick Kyrgios is listening to music. Kids, eh?
Is Nick Kyrgios a tennis brat or the future of Australian tennis? The Guardian has the answers. Sort of.
On offer for the victor today? A semi-final with Rafael Nadal. Or is it? No! It’s not! Because if you’re just waking up and haven’t heard the news, Rafael Nadal is out, beaten 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 by Tomas Berdych. I woke up at 5.30 this morning, just in time to see Berdych win that decisive tie-break. For a moment, when he let a couple of mini-breaks go, I thought Nadal was about to roar back, but it wasn’t to be. It means that both Nadal and Federer have been knocked out of a slam before the semi-finals since...
@jonathanliew last time they were both knocked out before the semis at a slam, Murray won Wimbledon!!!!!! Memories!!!!!
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) January 27, 2015
Morning! A rising star, all that asphyxiating pressure, all the hopes and dreams of a nations on one young man’s admittedly broad shoulders - it must be nice for Andy Murray to be on the other side of the net for once. He can look at Nick Kyrgios, Australia’s teenage whizzkid, and think that it used to be him. Every year. Will this be year? No? Ok, how about this year? Or this year? Or this one? Oh for heaven’s sake, will it ever be his year? It’s been so long. Maybe it will never be his year. And then it was his year and he won Wimbledon and the pressure was gone. Happy memories!
Today, however, Murray is in the role of party-pooper. They like him in Australia, where he has won friends by reaching the final of this tournament three times, but today they will like Kyrgios more. Any why not? The boy - and, while some po-faced moralists appear to have forgotten it in the past few days, moaning about a little bit of swearing and racquet-smashing, seeing as they’re all so perfect and have never erred or lost their temper and who know exactly what it means to compete in such a pressurised environment at that age, he still is a kid - is a star in the making. Blessed with immense self-belief and a keen sense of drama (a bit like Murray, actually), the 19-year-old reckons he can win this tournament. And as implausible as that sounds, why not? He’s shown he’s a fighter, coming back from two sets down and saving match points to beat Andreas Seppi on Sunday. He beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. He has an extravagant, exciting game and sometimes I wonder if his right arm is like that metal one they give the Winter Soldier in that high-culture Captain America film.
But it might be too much Kyrgios today. Here are some statistics: Murray has only lost once to a home player and a slam and he has a 10-0 record against Australian players. More pertinently, however, he will back himself to neutralise Kyrgios’s mightiest weapon, his serve. Along with Novak Djokovic, he is the best returner in the game, and Murray should be flying after his win over Grigor Dimitrov, the match of the tournament so far. That was a huge win for Murray. Not only will he have been delighted to expunge the memory of his defeat to Dimitrov at Wimbledon last year, it was also comfortably his most complete performance at a slam since his return from back surgery. Before then, his biggest scalp was his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the US Open, but Dimitrov is on another level to the Frenchman these days, so Murray will be feeling good. While Kyrgios will be feeling pumped.
Play begins at: 8.15am roughly. Or 7.15pm if you’re in Australia.
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