Superb Andy Murray passes Isner test

Andy Murray is through to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a superbly patient and disciplined 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2 victory over John Isner.

The first set followed a pattern with Murray holding serve comfortably and getting into most of Isner’s service games without breaking serve. Murray’s tactics were slower but with high first serve percentage; playing to Isner’s backhand and lots of slice. The drop shot also worked well with Isner’s movement towards them being described, as one MurraysWorld member put it, “like a wheely-bin filled with jelly”.

But at 5-6 Murray changed tactics slightly and started to go for first serves and found himself set point down. That was saved and after an Isner double fault mid way through the tie-breaker, he won it comfortably, 7-4.

Murray, holding serve easily and getting into the American’s service but failing to break, was the continued pattern of the 2nd set. The break did come when Murray, returning at 4-3, broke to love. Murray changed tactics again, serving for the 2nd set, and found himself at 15-40. Determined, he saved the break points, came through and was 2 sets up.

Isner’s confidence appeared damaged after being broken twice in the 3rd set that included a stunning backhand passing shot down the line from the shadows at the back of the court.

The match ended appropriately with a short forehand slice to Isner’s backhand for a winner.

Murray was asked to reveal something personal in his on court post match interview with Jim Courier. He struggled to come up with an answer, claiming, “This here just proves how boring I am”. Maybe playing the Doodle Jump app on his iPhone for 6 hours a day proves that.

It was good. I served really smart and served into his body and hits some great shots and stayed tough. You need to make sure you put a lot of first serves in and try not to let him dictate. I just tried to get the serves back. It's been a great start and I was always going to have to play my best tennis and now the matches are going to get tougher.