He's done it!In a gripping duel, Andy Murray battled his way to the semi-finals of the US Open, defeating Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 7-5.
Murray started the match well, going into an early 4-1 lead by breaking Del Potro early, and absorbing the pace from the match, hitting smart lobs and slice shots.
Del Potro found a way back into the match however, with Murray getting closer to the baseline and allowing Del Potro a break of serve. With Del Potro then serving for the set, Murray produced a fantastic winner to break Del Potro again, taking the set into a tie-break, which Murray won emphatically 7-2.
It was at this point Del Potro called for the trainer, in regards to his troublesome knee. After a short delay both players were back on court, and it was an even set, with both players refusing to break serve until 5-5 when Murray broke Del Potro to serve for the set. Del Potro came back however, breaking Murray to love in what was a lacklustre game from the Scotsman.
The set was to be settled with another tie-break, which Murray again won with relative ease, by 7-1. One foot was now in the semi-final.
However, somehow Del Potro found a second wind. After another visit from the trainer, the Argentine produced some great tennis to take the third set. Del Potro looked down and out when Murray broke for a 3-1 lead, but in what seemed like a common theme for the match, Murray gave the break straight back, and Del Potro closed the rest of the set out at 6-4.
Suddenly the momentum was with Del Potro, and things didnt look good for Murray when he was broken early in the fourth set. Murray shown character however, and managed to break Del Potro himself. With Del Potro beginning to show fatigue, Murray managed to close out the 4th set 7-5 - booking his place in the semi-final.
With many expecting fireworks due to the players apparant dislike for each other, there was a nice moment at the net after the match, where the players shook hands and seemingly put the animosity behind them, perhaps finding a new found respect for each other.
The match itself felt scrappy and disjointed at times, with Del Potro's knee problems slowing the match down somewhat. Nonetheless, both players produced some moments of fabulous tennis, and it's clear both players have a bright future in the game.
Rafael Nadal next up for Murray in the semi-finals, and it's easily the biggest match of his career so far. He'll need to improve his serve for sure, which was erratic at times, and improve his killer instinct. Murray should have wrapped up the first and second sets long before he did, and should have won the third. He cant afford to give players like Nadal a route back into the match.
But even all that might not be enough, against the current best player in the world.
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