Australian Open: Andy Murray quells Milos Raonic challenge

Britain’s Andy Murray after his 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2 semi-final over Milos Raonic of Canada.— AFP

Andy Murray twice fought back from a set down to win a gruelling five-set semi-final against an injury-hampered Milos Raonic and set up his latest Australian Open final against five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Friday.

The four-time runner-up reached his fifth Australian Open final after overcoming the gallant Canadian 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2 in four hours, three minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic has already beaten Murray in three Australian finals and the world number one will get the advantage of an extra day’s rest after he knocked out Roger Federer in four sets in Thursday’s semi-final.

It will be Murray’s ninth Grand Slam final as the Briton, up against the dominant Serb once again, chases an elusive third major title after winning the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013.

“It was tough because he (Raonic) didn’t miss one first serve in the (third set) tiebreaker and he has one of the best serves in tennis,” Murray said.

“I started to get a better read on his serves as the match went on as I was making a few more returns, that was the key.”

It was the 28-year-old Scot’s fourth win in seven encounters with the much-improved Canadian, who slowed in the final set as he completed the match grimacing from a right groin injury.

Murray broke Raonic’s big serve four times, twice in the fifth set, and hit 38 winners, while Raonic served up 23 aces among his 72 winners, but made 78 unforced errors.

Raonic, who beat former winner Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils to reach his second major semi-final, was bidding to become the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam title match.