Andy Murray beats David Ferrer to keep Australian Open title hopes alive

Great Britain’s Andy Murray kept his hopes of winning a first Australian Open title alive thanks to a 6-3 (5)6-7 6-2 6-3 victory over David Ferrer at the quarter-final stage in Melbourne earlier today.

Murray, a four-time beaten finalist at Melbourne Park, has now reached 18 Grand Slam semi-finals – the same number as Boris Becker.

Having claimed the first set in 46 minutes, number two seed Murray clawed his way back from 4-1 down to level up the second set. However, his Spanish opponent went on to show the battling qualities that have defined his career to eventually claim the set on a tie-breaker.

Play was stopped momentarily during the third set in order for the roof to be closed on the Rod Laver Court and after the resumption Murray took complete control of proceedings, dropping just five games on his way to sealing the win in 11 minutes short of four hours.

Murray’s triumph came shortly after Johanna Konta had defeated Zhang Shaui in straight sets, which means that Britain has a man and a woman in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam event for the first time since 1977.

The Scot will now take on the winner of the Milos Raonic versus Gael Monfils encounter for a place in Sunday’s final.