They’ve grown up together, sharing a similar path to professional tennis and developing a similar style of play. With his brother Jamie in the doubles final at the Australian Open, the world No. 2 – who said he wouldn’t be able to watch because he was too nervous to – showed up at the end anyway.
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Interestingly, Murray is attempting to become the first man in the post-1968 Open era to win the Australian Open after losing four finals.
Murray, 28, reached his fifth Melbourne final with a hard-fought five-set win over Milos Raonic on Friday. Obviously when you get to the final you’re disappointed if you don’t win. “There are not many tennis players that have come out of Scotland”.
Murray will meet his Melbourne Park nemesis Novak Djokovic for a fourth time in the title-decider, having fended off an injury-hampered Raonic 4-6 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena. Though Djokovic has won 10 of their last 11 matches, Murray did get a victory in the Rogers Cup final in Montreal in August.
It was of little consolation, however, for a player who was left on the sidelines for much of last season due to a string of injuries.
“It’s a possibility for me to make history, which is of course another great imperative for me for tomorrow’s match”, he said.
And despite the prospect of a family double Jamie sought to distance himself from the hype, insisting a third major title for Andy would be very much a singular achievement.
“It’s unfortunate… probably the most heartbroken I’ve felt on court, but that’s what it is”, Raonic said following the match. “Andy, you should be in bed”.
Andy Murray defeated Milos Raonic, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 in the Australian Open semifinals in Melbourne, and will face Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday.
Murray also has one day less to recover than his opponent, who played his semi-final on Thursday, and the top seed spent 104 minutes fewer beating Roger Federer in four sets. “It was a very close match for three sets”, he said.
“This match won’t take an very bad lot out of Murray – the rallies weren’t that long”. It’s no secret we know how we play against each other.
Djokovic on his display against Federer: “I came out with I think a great deal of self-belief and confidence and intensity, concentration”. Djokovic is 4-0 lifetime against Murray this event and the top-ranked Serb has won the title five times in as many final appearances. “These are the kind of matches that you work for”. But still I will go out there to try to challenge her, playing good tennis.
Djokovic has won four out of the last six majors and already has one ATP title in 2016 (Doha) after winning 11 titles in 2015.
Murray downplayed any concerns immediately after his win over Raonic, pointing to Djokovic’s own comeback after a draining, five-setter against him in the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2012.
“But the previous disappointments, it’s one tennis match”.
Andy said: “For it to be the first time to happen, it is incredible really. It’s about what happens on Sunday”, Murray said. People like to read into what’s happened in the past, but Stan beat Rafa in the final here. I didn’t know that.
“When he beat Novak here, the same thing as well”.
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“With the way I’ve sort of started off this year after the difficulties I had, whatever it was, three months ago, not finishing the year, many other aspects, not knowing where I stood, this was the most ideal way to start. (I’m) going to be ready for that”.
