Murray set to face rival Djokovic again

Associated Press

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Andy Murray arrived at the Australian Open fully prepared to become a father before becoming champion.

Murray left his pregnant wife in Britain ahead of the start of the tournament, promising to fly home at any time if needed.

However, the 28-year-old Murray has now given himself a chance of becoming a champion first following his five-set win over Milos Raonic on Friday to reach the final for the fifth time.

His 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 victory sets up a final against five-time champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s title match.

Murray is 0-4 in finals at Melbourne Park with Djokovic having won all five previous Australian Open finals.

“Five finals is a great achievement. You can’t take that away from me,” Murray said. “So I have to be proud of that achievement.

“Doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past. What matters is what happens Sunday.”

Three of Djokovic’s wins in Australia have come in finals against his old friend Murray, every odd-numbered year since 2011.

“He loves playing on this court, we’ve played a bunch of times here,” Murray said. “Hopefully it can be a different result.”

Murray has had a lot on his mind this time. His wife, Kim, is expecting their first baby next month. His father-in-law, Nigel Sears, was in Melbourne as coach for Ana Ivanovic and had to be rushed to a hospital by ambulance during a match on Rod Laver Arena, which happened to coincide with Murray’s third-round match on an adjacent arena.

Sears spent a night in a nearby hospital, but was considered well enough to return home. While his father-in-law was being treated in hospital, Murray at times thought his departure from Australia may have been earlier than expected.

He stayed, and won his next two matches in straight sets, shaking out some of the emotions.

He had more to contend with against Raonic, who was playing in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time, and aiming to be the first Canadian man to reach the final of a major.

In an unusual start, the first seven points of the match went against serve, with Raonic breaking at love and then facing triple break point before holding for a 2-0 lead. It was Raonic’s only service break of the match, with Murray fending off six other break-point chances.

Raonic was hampered by an adductor problem in his upper right leg from late in the third set. He needed a medical time out, and later in the fourth set had a massage from the trainer.

“I couldn’t push off, I couldn’t get up to serve, and I couldn’t change direction,” Raonic said. “Probably the most heartbroken I’ve felt on court.”