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[allyh84]

Andy Murray put in an impressive performance against Rafael Nadal winning 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 3-0, before Nadal’s persistent knee problems continued to haunt him and he was forced to retire.

The Spaniard threw down the gauntlet early with a break to go 2-1 up. A passing winner and some valiant recoveries from the world number 2 showed that he was in a competitive mood right from the off. Murray responded in the best possible way with a break of his own, securing this with a thumping overhead smash with his higher ranked rival stranded behind the baseline. The packed out Margaret Court Arena was treated to an unpredictable first set and this was heightened when Murray held and broke for the second time with a brutal winner off of Nadal’s serve to go 4-2 up.

Nadal was struggling to live with Murray’s double handed backhand and the variety in the Scot’s game. Both men continued to hold serve until Murray deservedly won the set 6-3. 15 winners for the Scot compared to 6 for Nadal painted an accurate and telling story.

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The pendulum began to swing in favour of Nadal in the second set, as he glimpsed break points on his rival’s serve and relinquished just one solitary point in his first 3 service games. The colourful fireworks celebrating Australia Day may have still been ringing in Murray’s ears after a pause in play. Nadal’s dominance told as he went 4-2 up and broke. Murray pushed a volley into the net to give Nadal the break, which was ironic as Murray’s volleying has been superb prior to this.  Particularly on the backhand side, Murray’s crosscourt hitting had Nadal flustered regularly. The Spaniard succumbed again when he found himself in no man’s land, pinned in a corner on a Murray break point. Nadal could only struggle and hit the ball to the net which handed Murray a break back to make it 4-3.

The world number 5 had put the post-fireworks mishaps behind him and held to love to confirm his break. Murray continued in his stubborn nature and dug his heels into the grey-blue Melbourne court, seeing 4 break points on Nadal’s serve but to no avail. Nadal was in no mood to bow down and hit a blistering forehand down the line for a winner to make it 6-5. His opponent then held to take the set to the mouthwathering tie-break. For arguably the first time in the match, Nadal’s mind went elsewhere. The six time Grand Slam champion found himself 3-1 down before an onslaught of approach shots and overhead winners brought Murray a commanding 6-1 advantage. The fifth seed showed off his new serve and volley prowess to easily take the breaker 7-2.

By this time, Nadal looked out of sorts as Murray held to love with minimum fuss. Nadal’s troublesome knee problems forced an injury time out as the trainer massaged the tip of his right knee. The face of Nadal cut a picture of a deflated man and there were a dulling sense of inevitability over what was to come. Murray of course broke and held to go 3-0 up, with Nadal pulling up awkwardly numerous times as his knee began to buckle dangerously. In a truly gutting scene for everyone watching, a disheartened Nadal trudged to the net to admit defeat and shake hands with his companion and opponent.

Murray looked calm under pressure in the first two sets and stood toe to toe with the former world number 1. The gangly Brit had struggled against tonight’s adversary many times before but his critics’ lips will be pursed shut now. The huge Croat Marin Cilic will ask different questions in the semi-final on Thursday, but Murray’s dominance over the similarly gigantic John Isner will be advantageous in his preparations.

Match highlights (1 video)

Murray vs Nadal - Match Highlights

Murray's comments

I had to come through a few tough moments at the start of the match when I was going for it a bit too much but I played really well.

I had to go for my shots and play big tennis and when the big points come you have got to try to keep them short. You do not want to play long points against Rafa - I served and volley a little bit and everything went well.

I've known Rafa since I was 13 or 14 and he is someone I always looked up to when I came up through the juniors. He is my favourite player to watch with his energy and I am a bit gutted for him.

There was one backhand in the following game he didn't quite run for. I didn't realize it was such a big problem. I was very surprised because I've seen Rafa play matches where he's obviously been in a lot of pain and discomfort, and he's played on.

Here last year he won back‑to‑back five‑set matches in the semis and finals. His knee is obviously sore enough that what happened last year, he had to miss Wimbledon. That's a shame, because I obviously don't know how bad his knees are.

Nadal's comments

Every Grand Slam is special and every Grand Slam is important to win. For Andy, I think he deserves to win his first Grand Slam, and he gonna do it.

Andy played really well I think. I think he's at unbelievable level, no? I think my level was very high today, too. I had big chances. I had big chances to win both sets. And I think against probably the player who is playing better right now, I was very close.

I think he played more aggressive than what he did the last matches. He did really well. He was serving really well in important moments. He played aggressive. He played aggressive with both shots, forehand and backhand. He went to the net a few times, serve and volley.

He's a very complete player. He has a lot of chances to do it during the match, and that's very important because you have different options when the match is complicated.

Referring to his right knee injury,

I felt similar thing to what I had last year - I go to the limit, but not cross the limit, no?

[madeline]

Hello Andy:

Magic on the Tennis Court.  Just watched your game with Rafa.  Pity it had to end as it did but those are the breaks.

Looking forward to your match with Cilic.

Goodluck in the final with I presume Federer.

[Rachie]

11/10 just fantastic performance from Murray, Im so proud of him.

[Mark]

Nadal,

Every Grand Slam is special and every Grand Slam is important to win. For Andy, I think he deserves to win his first Grand Slam, and he gonna do it.

Andy played really well I think. I think he's at unbelievable level, no? I think my level was very high today, too. I had big chances. I had big chances to win both sets. And I think against probably the player who is playing better right now, I was very close.

I think he played more aggressive than what he did the last matches. He did really well. He was serving really well in important moments. He played aggressive. He played aggressive with both shots, forehand and backhand. He went to the net a few times, serve and volley.

He's a very complete player. He has a lot of chances to do it during the match, and that's very important because you have different options when the match is complicated.


Referring to his right knee injury,

I felt similar thing to what I had last year - I go to the limit, but not cross the limit, no?

[Mark]

I think he knew he was going to lose and simply didn't think it was worth risking further injury,

[janscribe]

Another top class match from Andy. I feel so sorry for Nadal - he's such a super guy and I know how much Andy likes and respects both the man and his game. He must have been disappointed that the match could not go to its natural end - I think Andy would have won anyway.

[eira_arian]

Woop woop! Though, obviously I wish that Nadal hadn't had to retire... Was v exciting, my friend's mum was texting us updates in our Company Law class...

[Mark]

Murray vs Nadal - Match Highlights