Murray beats Ferrer, Raonic downs Monfils to advance to semifinals

2015: Defeated seventh seed Tomas Berdych 7-6 (8-6) 0-6 6-3 7-5 to reach the final for the fourth time but became the first man in the Open era to achieve four runner-up finishes in Melbourne when he again lost to Djokovic in the decider.

It is the first time since 1977 that Britain has boasted grand slam semi-finalists in both the men and women’s draw but while it breaks new ground for Konta, this is Murray’s 18th appearance in the last four of a major tournament.

Even the great Roger Federer was unable to halt the recent mini-slump at the Australian Open on Tuesday when the Swiss tied in “most aces” with Tomas Berdych.

Thinking ahead to Murray, Raonic says, “I have certain aspects that I would like to manipulate and use my game in, and I’m sure he’s going to try to do a lot of different things, too”.

I said that Berdych would need to serve very well, and he didn’t, with only 49% of first serves in play during the all-important set one and a total of 54% for the match, which just wasn’t going to cut it. Raonic wrapped up the first set in 35 minutes.

Murray got a crucial early break in the third set before play was temporarily delayed to close the stadium roof.

But then he got a break – literally: shortly after forcing Ferrer to net a routine backhand for 3-1, Murray turned to see tournament director Craig Tiley walk on to announce the roof would be closed because of advancing thunder and lightning.

“I think I would have cried at the end but I’d sweated so much I didn’t have anything left in my body”.

After capturing the first two sets, Ferrer broke Isner to go up 6-5 in the third set after the American double-faulted on break point.

But with Sears given a clean bill of health Murray, whose wife Kim Sears is heavily pregnant, will hope for no more nasty surprises as he gears up for Ferrer, an opponent he knows well.

Raonic held in the next game, clinching it with an ace, and Wawrinka saved a match point in his next service game.

Last year, Raonic posted a career best performance in Melbourne by reaching the quarterfinals.

Part two of the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinals plays out tonight, Day 10, live from Melbourne, Australia.

Azarenka will face No. 7 seed Angelique Kerber on Wednesday.

Kerber is into the final eight for the first time in nine attempts at the Australian Open and it follows a first-round loss here a year ago.

Murray needed nearly three-and-a-half hours to overcome the typically obdurate Ferrer and set up a last-four meeting with Milos Raonic or Gael Monfils. Ferrer wasn’t happy. Murray headed for the players’ tunnel. “A challenge that I believe I have with myself to find a solution to”, Raonic said.

The No.7-seeded German will play the victor of the later quarterfinal between Britain’s Johanna Konta and Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai.