Andy Murray recovered from a set down against David Ferrer yesterday to set up an Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic, where he will aim to break Britain’s 75-year men’s Grand Slam drought.
After a slow start, Murray won 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) to advance to his second straight Australian final, as he aims to go one better than last year’s straight-sets loss to Roger Federer.
Tomorrow’s title match will be the British fifth seed’s third Grand Slam final overall as he seeks to breakthrough for his first major trophy against the Serbian world number three.
“In the first Slam final I played against Federer (2008 US Open), I didn’t know what was going on, it went so quick. And last year was better than before, and I hope this one going to be better than last year,” Murray said.
Murray is bidding to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936. Perry was also the last British player to win the Australian Open, in 1934.
Last year, Murray was the first British man since John Lloyd in 1977 to play in an Australian Open final.
Murray extended his current winning streak to nine matches and dropped only his second set of the tournament against the tenacious Ferrer.
Ferrer was playing in his second Grand Slam semi-final after taking advantage of an injured Rafael Nadal to win their quarter-final in straight sets. Ferrer made Murray work for every point and kept him on court for 3hr 46min, leaving the Scot heading straight for an ice bath to recover for the final.
Murray clutched his left quad during the fourth set, but he prevailed in a tiebreak, getting to five match points and clinching it on the third.
Women’s doubles
Flavia Pennetta became the first Italian to lift an Australian Open trophy yesterday when she won the women’s doubles with Argentina’s Gisela Dulko.
The pair weathered a furious onslaught from Russia’s Maria Kirilenko and Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, to win 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Both players’ maiden Grand Slam doubles title came in their first major final together.
Playing today: Women’s singles final – Clijsters (Belgium) vs Li Na (China).