Another Grand Slam and again the top four men’s seeds went are through to the semis. Tonight, second seed Roger Federer and third seed Andy Murray square off for the 20th time, the winner to play a red hot Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
We will have live updates and comments from 7pm (AEDT).
While their overall head to head record stands at 10-9 in favour of the Scotsman, Federer has the edge in Grand Slam tournaments.
Three times they have played in the majors and three times Federer has emerged victorious, most recently in 2012’s Wimbledon final.
But having won the US Open and Olympic gold last year (where he beat Federer in the final), Murray has legitimately taken his place among men’s tennis’ ‘big four’.
He has cruised through the tournament so far and looks on top of his scarily well-rounded game.
With a seemingly stronger emotional fortitude, the weaknesses in Murray’s game are no longer quite as apparent.
Federer was also gliding through another effortless major run until he hit the most charismatic of roadblocks in Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.
Tsonga tested the greatest with his court sense and shot making.
His attempt at a dominant game plan often rattled Federer, who is most comfortable when conducting the centre court tune, not merely playing it.
Federer is a champion and he survived the test, as the great ones often do.
Murray will do well to take a play or two out of Tsonga’s plan and, combined with a renewed belief in his ability to win against his fellow big four members, he may just have enough firepower to bring down the Swiss master.
The Scotsman must start quickly however. If Murray finds himself behind early it could be a long night for him. Federer is the most famous of front-runners and will look to pounce on any early opportunities that Murray can offer on serve.
Both players know each other’s games so well and have fought some fantastic battles over the years, and this match should be no different.
It truly promises to be an epic!
aggregated drupe
Roar Pro
Great stuff Murray a well desrved win!
big jim phelan
Guest
i loved him in coffee & cigarettes.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Cheers stevo, thanks for getting involved!
Stevo
Guest
Thanks Kurt and Novak to win.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
6-4 6-7 6-3 6-7 6-2 in 4 hours. Murray a deserved winner. Played like a finalist all night. It was only the greatness of Federer that kept the brutal game of Murray at bay. The final should prove to be an interesting match up with both Djokovic and Murray in stunning form. Murray will go into a 3rd consecutive Grand Slam final and will be a worthy match up for the world number 1. thanks for indulging me in tonight's blog. I hope you enjoyed the match as much as I did. For what its worth, I'm gonna pick the Djoker for the final.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Big serve by the champ! But now its all over! MURRAY WINS IN 5! Fed pushes a forehand long!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
2 MATCH POINTS for Murray. Cracking forehand return!
Stevo
Guest
Roger on the ropes.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
0-30 and Federer looks like he is all at sea. Not getting the ball early enough. Makes amends there, forces an error. 15-30
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
ugly backhand into the net there. 0-15
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Game Murray, leads 5-2. Look for him to have some big swings at Feds serve here. roger has been here before though and knows that if he can hold here the pressure on Murray will jack up ten fold. Here we go!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Fed nets a forehand 15-0 Murray. And now another unplayable serve by Murray. 30-0Error by Murray and its 30-15 make that 40-15 with an ace!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
30-0 and Fed has gone back to basics. Murray a couple of unforced errors. Murray looks like he is playing for the match with the break he has. Waiting for the chance to serve it out. Fed holds and its 4-2.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Classy forehand down the line sees Murray to 40-0. he has really stood up when the heat was on in this match. And another crunching forehand sees him to 4-2. Commeth the hour commeth the Scotsman?
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Great first serve! This a key game for Murray. And another gets him to 30-0.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
ohhhh, Murray had a crack at a backhand cross court and nets it! Fed looked stranded there. But he follows it up with a heavy return! Fed comes back and wins the game. 3-1 Murray in the 5th
Stevo
Guest
That drop shot has been poor :) all nite. The Fed just making some uncharacteristic errors tonight. Bermuda Triangle or what?
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Great challenge by Murray sees him get a second serve and he muscles his way to 15-30
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Weird attempted drop shot by Fed there and its 3-0 Murray. It looks a long way back for Fed, though it is only a break. The rhythm of the match would suggest that Murray will win this 5th set comfortably.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
That means Intensive Care for those that don't watch Greys Anatomy. Murray to 40-0 now with a ripped forehand down the line. It seems he has grown in confidence all of a sudden.