Brits Murray, Konta through on distracting day in Melbourne
MELBOURNE: In keeping with the way this Australian Open has been going, Andy Murray was asked following a quarter-final win on Wednesday about the state of his game.
And then, invariably, about the integrity of his sport.
British hearts swelled with pride at Melbourne Park as Murray battled into the Australian Open semi-finals after compatriot Johanna Konta swept into the last four of the women’s tournament.
Murray won a typically attritional slog against Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals at a Grand Slam for the 18th time, while Konta eased past Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 to become the first British woman in more than 30 years to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.
It’s the first time since the Australian Open in December 1977 that that two British players {John Lloyd and Sue Barker) have advanced to the final four of any major but they will need to muster more bulldog spirit to reach the final.
Second seed Murray, who booked his sixth semi-final in Melbourne, will face Milos Raonic with the Canadian 13th seed in the form of his life.
Raonic’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils made him Canada’s first male semi-finalist at Melbourne Park.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Federer will contest the other semi-final on Friday.
Konta, the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Jo Durie at the 1983 US Open, will face seventh seed Angelique Kerber, who stunned twice former champion Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5 in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena.
The fall-out from match-fixing allegations that rocked the tournament’s opening day continued to rumble.
Officials launched an independent review into the Tennis Integrity Unit to restore “public confidence in our sport” after accusations the watchdog had failed to adequately investigate suspicious matches in the past.
In announcing the review, ATP chairman Chris Kermode said the reports had “caused damage to the sport,” which compelled the major stakeholders in tennis — the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA tours, and the four Grand Slams — to take quick action to address the issue.