25 Jan 2013

Murray beats Federer to reach Australian Open final

Andy Murray could win a second successive grand slam title after beating Roger Federer in five sets in the Australian Open semifinal.

Andy Murray powered his way to a third successive grand slam final with a five-set defeat of Roger Federer.

Murray took the first set 6-4, going 2-1 up after securing the third set.

But world number two Federer showed why he has 17 grand slam titles to his name, edging a hard-fought fourth set after a tie-break.

Murray broke serve early in the fifth set, maintaining his lead and securing an impressive 6-2 score with a break of serve in the final game of the match.

‘I just kept fighting’

Speaking on court after the game, Murray said: “I just had to keep fighting. I’ve been known for losing a lot of tough, big matches until the Olympics. That certainly helped.”

And on his prospects for the final, where he meets world number one Novak Djokovic, the British number one said: “This is the court he’s played his best tennis on – so I’ll obviously have to play my best game to win.

“I hope (my experience in grand slam finals) will help. To get into that position I’m going to have to play an unbelievable match and recover well.

“Every time we play each other it’s a very phyiscal match. I’ll need to be ready for the pain – but I hope it’s a painful match!”

The Scot defeated Djokovic in the US Open last September, after losing to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final.