By Niall Clarke
- Andy Murray defeats Bernard Tomic in straight sets
- The Brit came through 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4)
- He will face David Ferrer In the quarter finals.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- Andy Murray battled his opponent and the crowd to come through his fourth round match against Bernard Tomic in straight sets.
The Brit, who has still yet to lose a set to the Aussie in four meetings, needed two hours and 33 minutes to book a quarter final showdown with David Ferrer.
Murray made a quick state out of the blocks with break of serve in the first game of the match. Tomic managed to break back but the world number two regained his advantage before going a double break up for five two. The Aussie battled back to rescue the set the first time Murray served for it, but on the second time of asking the Scot was able to seal it 6-4.
The following set started the same as the first with an early break advantage for Murray. Again Tomic broke back and quickly gave the advantage back to Murray who’s defensive qualities were proving tough for the 16th seed to handle.
Murray successfully served out the set 6-4 leaving Tomic with an almost insurmountable task if he was to keep Australian hopes alive.
The third set proved a tight affair with the players exchanging breaks in the early goings. The 23 year old was growing more into the match and it was fitting that it went to a tiebreak to decide the third set. It was a tiebreak dominated by the Brit who quickly raced out to a 6-2 lead. However he squandered two match points with Tomic looking like he might make a surprising comeback. Murray had different ideas though. Third time proved a charm to the four time finalist here secured his passage into the last eight.
Despite the straight sets win, Murray described his win as a ‘tough match’.
“I didn’t think it was that straightforward. It was a tricky match.” Murray said in his post match press conference via ausopen.com
“ You know, I mean, I got up a break I think in all of the sets. Each time he obviously got it back. So there were quite a few momentum shifts in all of the sets.
“I think the third set he definitely played better. He started taking a lot more chances, especially at the end of the set. The 5-All game that we played there, it was a very long game. He was serving and going big off the first ball. It wasn’t easy for me to get into a rhythm.
“Luckily he missed a few easy forehands in the tiebreak, and that helped me out in the breaker. Helped me get it done in straight sets.
“But, you know, it’s obviously never straightforward against someone with his game style. He’s a different player to most. You know, he’s tough.”
It has not only be a tricky few days for Murray on the court but also off it as his father in law Nigel Sears collapsed on Saturday.
”I went to the hospital immediately after the match, and then went to the hospital again in the morning.” Murray said as reported on ausopen.com
“Sort of the day after I went to the hospital for a few hours, and after that just came back to practice here in the afternoon.
“Yeah, it’s been a tough few days, yeah.”
Awaiting Murray is Ferrer who overcame big serving John Isner in straight sets. The Spaniard provides a much different challenge to Tomic, but it is one Murray is familiar with.
They have met 18 times before with the Brit claiming 12 victories over the Spaniard. Gael Monfils or Milos Raonic will await the winner in the semi finals after the Canadian upset Stan Wawrinka in a five set thriller earlier in the day.
Murray vs Ferrer will take place on Wednesday the 27th of January.
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