Roger Federer advanced to the Australian Open semifinals after defeating Britain’s Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in 3 hours and 20 minutes in Rod Laver Arena.
A revitalised Federer dominated the first two sets and much of the third where he served for the match at 5-4 before Murray gatecrashed the party to break serve and force the set into a tiebreak. The fourth seeded Scot made the most of the opportunity and went on to win the tiebreak after Federer squandered two match points.
The momentum shift was short-lived as Federer regrouped to take the fourth and final set breaking Murray in the eighth game.
Federer will now face old nemesis Rafael Nadal in the semifinal.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he smiled when asked about renewing hostilities with the Mallorcan World No. 1. It is the first meeting at a Major of the two tennis greats since they met in the semifinals at Melbourne in 2012.
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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis