World No.1 Andy Murray saved seven match points, as he came back from the brink against an inspired Philipp Kohlschreiber 67 76 61 in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
It was Murray’s first tournament since his shock loss to Mischa Zverev in the fourth round of the Australian Open, and the first since he publicly admitted suffering from shingles in the aftermath of the Australian Open defeat.
He had seemed back to his best after defeating Malek Jaziri and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez for the loss of the just seven games combined in the first two rounds, but came undone against the veteran German.
Both men were equal with points won on first and second serve in terms of percentage, but Murray edged Kohlschreiber in terms of first serve delivery, 72% to the German’s 55%. Despite the statistics, it was Kohlschreiber who took the set seven-four, in the tie-break.
As expected, Murray then got off to a fast start to begin the second set, breaking in the third game. He was broken though, as he served for the set, and both men held for a tie-break.
The tie-break was a marathon, lasting an incredible thirty-eight points, with both players playing at an incredible level, as the tension increased with every point. It was Kohlschreiber who lead for much of the tie-break, ad the German held an incredible seven match points, including multiple chances on his own serve.
Some may question whether the World No.29 was getting a little tight with so much on the line, but the reality was that every point was full of quality, and he could feel relaxed knowing that he had kept his level high even during the match points on his own serve.
He did not manage to take any of the seven match points though, and it was Murray who finally capitalised after thirty-eight points, earning a mini-break against the Kohlschreiber serve when leading 19-18.
“I’ve never played a tiebreak like that in my life. It was pretty ridiculous.” The world No.1 said about the tie-break marathon.
Murray had audaciously saved one of the seven match points with an incredible drop shot to get himself out of jail.
Murray quickly held to start the third, but Kohlschreiber, who had never defeated a current World No.1 prior to this meeting, showed great determination to hold his opening service game. Kohlschreiber was also the first to force a break chance in the third, a Hawkeye challenge benefiting the thirty-three year-old with a winner, but Murray saved with an ace.
After saving the break point, Murray then broke, with a return winner and double fault taking him to break point. He then forced an error from a net-rushing Kohlschreiber to take the break.
Murray held, and secured a double break as Kohlschreiber, not surprisingly, failed to maintain his high levels. Murray then served the match out, with a final, desperate lunge forehand flying wide, and Murray moved into the semi-finals.
Murray will face the winner of Evgeny Donskoy, who shocked Roger Federer in the second round, and Lucas Pouille.
