Murray on Wednesday handled No. 8 seed David Ferrer 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, advancing to a semifinal against No. 13 seed Milos Raonic, who shut down the theatrics of No. 23 seed Gael “Force” Monfils 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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Zhang has been a surprise package at Melbourne Park, entering as a qualifier who has lost all 14 previous Grand Slam draws in the first round.
It is the first time that two British singles players – man or woman – have featured in the last four at the same Grand Slam event since John Lloyd and Sue Barker at the 1977 Australian Open. In the final he lost in straight sets to Novak Djokovic, who had put out defending champion Federer in the semis. “It will be a tough match, he’s obviously played some great ones here”, Murray said.
She booked her place against Konta – the first British woman to reach the Australian Open last eight since Jo Durie in 1983 – by beating injured 15th seed Madison Keys.
“It’s been a great tournament so far, and hopefully we can all keep going”, Murray said.
“You know, I had tough matches against her in the past. Extremely positive. Just got to try and capitalise on it”.
The only two unseeded players left in the tournament, Britain’s Johanna Konta and China’s Zhang Shuai, will battle it out in Wednesday’s second match at the Rod Laver Arena.
“That first game after the delay was very important”. Nearly inevitably they went to the tie-break, where Ferrer went 4-1 up then served for the set at 6-5, ecstatic when Murray’s final forehand went long. Raonic got the first opportunity in the fifth game, leading 15-40 on Monfils’ serve.
“It was quite a scrappy match and I don’t think there was a period in the match where both of us were playing our best at the same time”.
Murray, who is five years younger than Ferrer, said age would make no difference in the match.
As for Monfils, he broke Raonic in the sixth game of the second set to take the frame, but the Frenchman’s energy level immediately dropped off.
Down a break, the Spaniard threatened a comeback at 4-2 but Murray saved a break point with the shot of the match, chasing down Ferrer’s volley before whipping a low forehand down the line for a brilliant pass.
The pair split the opening two sets of their quarter-final and Murray had just broken for a 3-1 lead in the third when organisers delayed the match to shut the roof with a heavy storm approaching from the west.
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Murray grabbed another break early in the fourth set when Ferrer’s running backhand crosscourt was just wide. With Monfils serving for the set at 3-5, Raonic held break point to reclaim the break late, but he could not convert and Monfils pulled out the set to even the match.
