Andy Murray battles back against Alexandre Muller to reach semi-finals at Qatar Open
ATP
Andy Murray continued to roll back the years by fighting back from a set down to move into the Qatar Open semi-finals at the expense of unknown quantity Alexandre Muller.
The 35-year-old had to dig deep once again to battle back against the French qualifier, taking it 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in two hours nine minutes in Doha. The Scot will now face Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka in Friday’s semi-finals after the 21-year-old battled from a set down to shock top seed Andrey Rublev. It was a lively start by two-time Qatar Open winner Murray, who looked dialled in from the first serve, getting balls in the court and carving out a couple of break points in Muller’s first service game. An early advantage was secured after the French World No.170 netted.
But Muller responded brilliantly, breaking straight back in the next game with a superb winner and levelling the match up with serve at 2-2. The French underdog had settled into the match at this point and began forcing errors from Murray, and he flipped the match on its head with another break and hold to lead 4-2.
It was draining, punishing tennis at this stage with both players breathing hard after only six games. Murray failed to capitalise on two break points in game eight and Muller served it out confidently to take it 6-4. Murray has won four times on tour this year and on each occasion, has been at least two points from defeat. And the Scot refocused to break the Muller serve twice and race to a 5-0 in the second. A good hold from Muller re-established himself on the scoreboard but Murray used his years of experience to level up the match at a set each.
Muller had never reached an ATP quarter-final before and was up against an opponent who was looking for his 122nd ATP semi-final, a man who is the master of momentum. The former World No.1 continued the onslaught early in the decider by putting a missed opportunity in the first Muller service game behind him to break in the next to lead 3-1. There is no doubt Muller was playing a higher level of tennis than his 170 ranking in the first set but he just couldn’t repeat the quality as the old warrior across the net played some scintillating stuff, almost toying with the beleaguered Frenchman by use of the slice backhand to break again.
The man from Poissy, France showed the grit that had given him the best week of his career but Murray - who apparently doesn't do straight sets anymore - finished it in style with a brilliant backhand that Muller could only net.
