ANDY MURRAY WEATHERED a storm from Spain’s David Ferrer over four tough sets to advance to his sixth semi-final in seven years at the Australian Open.
The world number two finished the stronger, beating the eighth-seed 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 in three hours 20 minutes and will play Milos Raonic or Gael Monfils in Friday’s semi-final.
But today’s headlines belong to Johanna Konta who became the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 1983 when she ended the dream run of Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai.
The Sydney-born Konta, who came through a draining three-setter in the fourth round, recovered to oust Zhang 6-4, 6-1 and set up a last-four clash against German seventh seed Angelique Kerber.
Kerber stunned two-time champion Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5 in the match preceding Konta’s on Rod Laver Arena.
The 24-year-old Konta, who has blossomed in the last year, had never been beyond the fourth round at a Slam before but she now equals fellow Brits Virginia Wade (1972, en route to the title) and Sue Barker (1975 and 1977) in making the Melbourne semis.
In her Australian Open debut, she also became the first British woman to reach a semi-final at any of the Grand Slam tournament since since Jo Durie at the US Open in 1983.
In the men’s quarter-final Ferrer proved a difficult proposition for Murray, relentlessly slugging it out from the baseline and keeping the Scot working hard in a physically demanding match.
The Scot, distracted by his father-in-law’s collapse earlier in the tournament, reached his 18th Grand Slam semi as he attempts to go one better after losing four of the last six Melbourne finals.
Murray appeared to benefit in the change to the slower court conditions when the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena in the third set because of an approaching thunderstorm.
“I found it a bit easier to return. It was quite windy when the roof was open, so returning was tricky and against David’s extremely accurate forehand that helped me a little bit,” Murray said.
“It was actually good for us to have a little break because we played some brutal rallies at the beginning of the third set and also at the end of the second so I came back a bit more refreshed.”
