Murray, however, is one of the game’s most resilient competitors and when his chance came with Raonic’s injury he took it. Reaching the final is quite an achievement for the Scot given the on-court challenges he has faced here with the dramatic collapse of his father-in-law Nigel Sears and the knowledge that his wife back home is expecting their first child next month.
Advertisement
However, Raonic was forced to take a medical time out after three games in the fourth set. He has beaten Murray in three of those finals (2011, 2013 and 2015) and also beat him in the semi-finals in 2012. A brilliant tie-break by the Canadian secured the third set but after that, it all went wrong for Raonic.
“That’s what it was”.
“It’s unfortunate, probably the most heartbroken I felt on court, but that’s what it is”, the downcast 25-year-old told reporters, his eyes red and voice cracking.
World number one Novak Djokovic seemed to have been struggling to discover his absolute best form in Melbourne over the past fortnight but the first two sets of his victory over Roger Federer were amongst the most blistering the five-time champion has played in recent years.
Kerber has joked that it’s her national duty to protect the record of Graf, the last German to win the Australian Open, in 1994. He’s also won three out of the last four grand slams, and this is his fifth consecutive slam final.
World number two Murray, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2010 final, is looking to become the first man to lose four finals at a Grand Slam before finally winning the title.
“I guess that was sort of just the whole frustration of everything sort of getting out”, said Raonic, who tends not to be demonstrative on court.
The Serb has won 34 of his past 35 grand slam matches and is a raging favourite to join legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg on the all-time grand slam leaderboard with an 11th major title.
“There has been a lot of talks about his second serve, and I’m sure he and his team are very much aware of that”, Djokovic said.
Nestor won the first of his eight titles at the Australian Open in 2002 and first reached his first major final here in 1995, both times with partner Mark Knowles. That’s basically what happened and in the fifth set he was really able to physically and mentally get over Milos.
“I really hope Andy can win tomorrow”.
“I have a tremendous respect and admiration for everything he’s achieved in his career”.
He now will face Novak Djokovic on Sunday in the men’s final.
This will be the 31st meeting between the pair in a rivalry that goes back to their junior days. I think a couple of times I played the Thursday match. “It’s about what happens on Sunday”, Murray said.
“But you can’t get carried away with that, if you know what I mean”. I need to do it, you know, for a very long period if I want to get the win.
“So I understand the kind of desire and will to win that is present. I’m fit. I will try to win against her. That’s for sure”.
Advertisement
A match pitting one of the game’s finest servers against a returning maestro promised fireworks but few would have tipped Raonic to break his opponent to love in the opening game.
