No. 2 Andy Murray fought back from two sets down to defeat No. 13 Milos Raonic in a five-set thriller to reach his fifth Australian Open final.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic defeated Murray in the 2015, 2013, and 2011 Australian Open final. Federer beat the Scotsman in 2010.
Massive server Raonic took immediate control in the first set with a break and preserving his own serve after Murray could not convert three break points. After 36 minutes, it appeared Raonic had an easy road to the final.
Murray finally broke the Canadian in the second set to steal it, but Raonic’s winners and aces allowed him to take the third set when Murray could not keep his composure in the tiebreak.
Unfortunately, a groin injury slowed down Raonic in the fourth set. Murray capitalized on the opportunity as Raonic slowed down and grimaced in pain.
“I was going to fight and see what I could make of it, but it wasn’t looking that great,” said Raonic. “It’s just I couldn’t push off (my leg). I couldn’t get up to serve and I couldn’t change direction. That was the difficult part.”
The fifth set mirrored the first, but it was Murray who played like a champion.
“I started to get a slightly better read on his serve later on and that was the key,” he explained. “He [Raonic] definitely slowed down in the fifth set for sure which was unfortunate for him,” the Scot said of Raonic’s injury. I obviously got a bit lucky on that but you just try to focus on your side of the court.”
Murray’s older brother Jamie also reached the Australian Open final in doubles. It is the first time in the open era for siblings to reach the men’s singles final and men’s doubles at a Grand Slam.
“There’s not many tennis players that come out of Scotland,” said Murray. “For us to be in the Slam final at the same time is incredible. It’s his third one in a row, so I hope he can win.”