TENNIS – Andy Murray rallied from a set dwon to edge young Austrian Dominic Thiem with 3-6 6-4 6-1 to reach the semifinal in Miami, where he trains during the off-season. The Scotsman, who reached his milestone career 500th win yesterday with his win over Kevin Anderson, is bidding to win his third title at Key Biscayne after lifting this trophy in 2009 and 2013. Diego Sampaolo
Murray two double faults before committing sent a backhand wide in the fourth game of the first set on the break point for Thiem. The 21-year-old Austrian, who qualified for his first quarter final at Master 1000 level, made just one unforced error in the first six games. He faced a break point when he served for the set at 5-3 but he saved it with a volley before closing it out on the second set point when Murray sent a backhand passing shot into the net
Murray recovered from losing the first set by opening up a 3-0 in the second set with a break in the second game. However Thiem clawed his way into the match when Murray faced three break points in the 8th game. Thiem drew level to 4-4. At 5-4 for Murray, Thiem served to stay in the set and dropped his serve on the second set point. Murray won 6-4 to force the match to the decider. The Scotsman won 15 of his 18 points on his serve and broke serve twice in the fourth and in the sixth games to cruise to 6-1 to seal the win in the third set
Murray will take on Tomas Berdych who beat Juan Monaco 6-3 6-4 in the second quarterfinal.
Berdych got the first break of the match in the fourth game and held serve in the next game to pull away to 4-1. Monaco broke back in a very long seventh game featuring 16 points. Berdych earned the crucial break in the 8th game to take a 5-3 lead. The Czech player served out the first set to love. Berdych hit nine winners to 23 unforced errors. Monaco produced six winners and 18 unforced errors.
The second set went on serve until 4-4 when Berdych got the break in the ninth game for 5-4 before serving out to love as in the first set.
“He was playing really well. I managed to find situations to create opportunities and I executed them. I am really pleased with that. There were a couple of long and tough rallies. The conditions were not easy. There were a couple of challenges. I needed to face but I managed them all and went through”, said Berdych
Berdych leads 6-5 in the previous head-to-head matches against Murray.
