“You can’t take that away from me”, he said after outlasting Milos Raonic in his five-set semi-final on Friday. Defeat would mean an unwanted record for the player as no-one in the modern era has lost five finals at the same tournament.
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“I have a very good shot if I play my best tennis”, he said.
But Murray is already proud of his achievements at the Australian Open, even if he is yet to be crowned the champion. Doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past really. “What matters is what happens Sunday”.
Sunday’s Australian Open final will pit defending champion Djokovic against Murray in a rematch of last year’s decider.
They have played 30 times in the past and Murray has won only nine times. “Hopefully it can be a different result”. When it was finally time to go, he reminded fans that he had a good excuse. His wife, Kim, is back in Britain and due to have their first baby next month.
Three of Djokovic’s victorious Australian Open finals have been against Murray who is yet to taste the ultimate success at Melbourne Park.
Sears spent a night in a hospital, but was considered well enough to return home. While his father-in-law was being treated in hospital, Murray at times thought his departure from Australia may have been earlier than expected.
Djokovic is at the top of his game, and he showed it by hammering Federer in the first two sets of their match.
He had more to contend with against Raonic, who was playing in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time, and aiming to be the first Canadian man to reach the final of a major.
In the third, Raonic comfortably held his serve and had break point on Murray’s service in the 11th game, only for the Scot to hold on.
They saved a match point at 4-5 and again at 5-6, but Murray and Soares closed it out on their third match point when Stepanek hit a return into the net.
“Murray will need to go in with a game plan, give it absolutely everything and go for it”, said Castle.
“Thanks Sania, without you I wouldn’t be here today”, said Hingis.
After having his serve broken to open the fifth set, Raonic walked back to his chair and angrily smashed his racket on the court surface twice, breaking it.
‘Adding to that the fact that I am able to make history is of course just an additional encouragement and incentive for me to do well.
Murray joined Djokovic on the championship Sunday lineup after overcoming Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 during semifinal action on Friday night.
“I haven’t watched any of his matches here”, Murray said of his brother Jamie.
“When I hear predictions that are positive, of course, it does flatter and add to your confidence”, told reporters on Saturday. Djokovic has beaten Murray in 10 of the last 11 meetings. He was moving very well at the end and was playing confidently. We’ll be there to support him tomorrow. “I didn’t want to keep going like that”.
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But Williams is trying not to think too much about matching Graf’s 22 career titles. “But Stan (Wawrinka) did it a year ago, so we have to be inspired from that as well”. I just want him to win for himself.
