Andy Murray reached his fourth Australian Open final in the last six
years by winning a bad-tempered semi-final clash with Tomas Berdych on
Thursday.
Both men had played down the significance of Dani Vallverdu, now
coaching Berdych after several years in Murray's camp, during which time
the Venezuelan helped Murray win the US Open, Wimbledon and Olympic
titles.
But Murray admitted there had been extra tension in a
tetchy encounter which he eventually won 6-7 (6/8) 6-0 6-3 7-5 in three
hours and 26 minutes.
"Yeah, there was a little bit of extra
tension," the Scot said in an on-court interview. "It's a big match. A
lot was made of Dani working with him.
"We've been friends since
we were 15 and I felt like that was a bit unfair and unnecessary. This
is sport, there is more to life and I thought it was unfair and created a
bit of extra tension. It was there definitely at the beginning but I
think everyone calmed down after the start of the match."
Murray
also launched a staunch defence of his coach Amelie Mauresmo, whose
arrival last year was thought to have caused disagreement in his camp.
Vallverdu and fitness trainer Jez Green subsequently left in November.
"A
lot of people criticised me for working with her and I think so far
this week we have showed women can be very good coaches as well," he
added.
"Madison Keys, who reached the semi-finals here, is also
coached by a woman in Lindsay Davenport and I see no reason why that
can't keep moving forward so I am very thankful to Amelie for doing it.
"I would say it was a brave choice from her and hopefully I can repay her in a few days."
Murray
will take on either Novak Djokovic or defending champion Stan Wawrinka
in Sunday's final. He lost to Djokovic in the final in 2011 and 2013 and
is looking to become the first man in the Open era to win the title
after losing three finals. His other defeat came to Roger Federer in
2010.
The 27-year-old had looked in trouble early on as Berdych
held serve with ease and threatened to create three break points in the
sixth game with a superb drop shot.
Murray displayed all his
hallmark speed to reach it and produce a brilliant angled winner to
avoid going 0-40 down, but then limped back to the service line and
looked to mouth the word "calf" to his box.
Despite grimacing in
pain for the rest of the game, Murray held serve to level at 3-3 but
then lost his next service game and Berdych served for the set, only to
be broken back having previously conceded just two points in four
service games.
That prompted a roar of celebration apparently in
the direction of Vallverdu, and Berdych did not look impressed by
Murray's reaction as the players crossed at the net.
Murray was
even less impressed when Berdych asked for some balls to be changed
during the 11th game, the Scot complaining to umpire Pascal Maria about
the time taken to do so with the score at deuce.
And the bad
atmosphere continued after Berdych saved a set point on his way to
winning the tie-break, Murray complaining to the umpire that Berdych had
said something to him as they sat down. Maria spoke to Berdych who
insisted all he had said was: "Good play, Tomas."
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