Andy Murray has reached his fifth final at the Aegon Championships by seeing off former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
The semifinal encounter at The Queen’s Club was a meeting of the champions. On one side there was four-time Queen’s champion Murray, who is bidding to claim a record-breaking fifth title this year. Then on the other side was 2012 champion Cilic, who can be a danger to anybody at his best. Nevertheless, with Murray boasting a convincing head-to-head record of 10-2 against the Croat, the outcome was what most expected.
Unlike his previous matches at this week’s Aegion Championships, the world No.2 settled into proceedings almost immediately. A quick backhand return against Cilic’s serve during the third game rewarded the defending champion with a triple opportunity to break. Failing to capitalise on the first two due to some fierce Cilic defensive play, Murray sealed the break after a lengthy rally concluded with a forehand shank from the Croat. Cilic tried to respond, but Murray had an answer to everything thrown at him. Closing in on the one-set lead, the Brit once again increased his intensity before clinching the set with a spectacular forehand cross-court winner.
Watch @andy_murray finish off a great set of tennis with an incredible passing shot! https://t.co/kRsZ9uv0ca https://t.co/H2q38kXtTZ
— TennisTV (@TennisTV) 18 June 2016
Murray’s drive for the win was evident on the court as he expressed frustration with his errors, no matter how minor they were. Regardless of this, he was reminded of how Cilic managed to win the 2014 US Open during the second set with the world No.13 matching the home favourite shot by shot. The one-sided Murray show was truly over as the Croat finally took advantage of his chances to break for 4-3 before taking the set thanks to a long forehand from the world No.2. It was a case of what could have been for Murray as he failed to convert four break points throughout the set.
Responding to the mid-match blip, the top seed once again showed why he is currently the world No.2 and not Cilic. A short return from the Brit resulted in the Croat hitting the ball into the net, giving Murray a 2-0 break in the decider. That one break was fatal to Cilic’s hopes of reaching his 26th ATP final. Emulating the closing stages of the opening set, Murray once against had all the answers to what his rival handed him on the court as he closed the match out with a love service game.
“There were some really good points, Marin plays extremely well on the grass so I knew I had to play really well,” Murray told BBC Sport.
“In the third set the intensity got raised and I got a little fortunate and played some good shots at the end.”
“I think on this surface the serve is an important shot. When it lands you can get free points and in the last game, to get three free points in last game is big, hopefully serve like that tomorrow.”
Awaiting Murray in the finally will be either third seed Milos Raonic or Bernard Tomic, both of whom have a losing head-to-head record against him.
