Andy Murray set for Roger Federer Australian Open semi-final

 

Roger Federer v Andy Murray: Australian Open semi-final

  • Venue: Melbourne Park
  • Date: Friday, 25 January
  • Time: 08:30 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBC HD and online from 08:15 GMT, listen on BBC Radio 5 live from 08:30 and follow live text commentary online. You can also watch the BBC Two coverage again via iPlayer

Andy Murray says winning the US Open and Olympic gold in 2012 will help him going into Friday's Australian Open semi-final against Roger Federer.

The Briton takes on the 17-time Grand Slam champion in the night session on Rod Laver Arena from 08:30 GMT.

Andy Murray

Magic Murray wins gold for GB

The third seed believes that winning his first major title in New York last September, after beating Federer at London 2012 , has changed his outlook.

"I feel probably a little bit calmer maybe than usual," said the Scot.

"But I still have an understanding of how difficult it is to win these events. With the players that are still left in the tournament, it's going to be a very tough few days if I want to do that."

An 11th victory in 20 meetings against Federer - in a match to be shown live on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website from 08:15 GMT - would set up a final on Sunday against defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Federer, 31, remains a huge obstacle however, sweeping through the draw at Melbourne Park until he needed five sets to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight.

Murray has not dropped a set in his five matches, and the highest ranked player he has faced so far is Gilles Simon.

Federer v Murray head-to-head

Roger Federer Andy Murray

31

Age

25

6ft 1in

Height

6ft 3in

2

Ranking

3

76

ATP titles

25

17

Grand Slam titles

1

$76.0m

Earnings

$24.9m

9

Meetings

10

3

Grand Slam Meetings

0

"Roger has played some tough players, and a variety of different styles, so I'd say he's been tested pretty well," said the 25-year-old.

"I played a lot of tennis in December - I had some good matches in Brisbane - so I can't be disappointed about being in the semis of a Slam without dropping a set. That would be silly."

Federer agreed, saying: "I would probably rather be in his shoes. Has he lost a set? I don't think he has. That's exactly how you want to approach a semi-final match."

While Murray leads the head-to-head with Federer 10-9, the Swiss has won all three of their meetings at Grand Slams - in the finals of the 2008 US Open, the 2010 Australian Open and last year's Wimbledon .

"I don't go into it with a mindset that I've never lost to him in Slams," said Federer. "He's beaten me so many times. He's beaten me more times than I've beaten him.

"But I'm happy you've given me the positive news. It's a good vibe. I'll try to remember that when I walk out, but it doesn't play a huge role for me."

And the world number two said he was impressed by the way Murray has altered his game to become more of a potent attacking force.

"That's what matters the most for him now - in the moment itself, how offensive can you play when the ball is coming flat and hard into the middle?

Murray v Lendl - who would win?

Martina Navratilova: "Ivan didn't really have a weakness. He used the slice more than Andy, but I think Ivan had a bigger serve, better second serve and bigger forehand. But Andy has a bigger backhand. Movement wise, it's pretty close. Stamina is a tie. Mentally, I would give an edge to Ivan, still, but it would be a long match and I think they would come out pretty even."

"You have to know also when to back off. He's very clever at all these things. He knows how it works. But I think it's especially on the return that you see the biggest significant change in his game overall if you look back now."

Federer will be playing his fifth successive night match in the semi-final, while Murray has not made the late match once, and planned two evening practice sessions on the nearby Hisense Arena to get used to the conditions under lights.

But Federer suggested the court "doesn't play that different" at night, and Murray was not about to make an issue of it.

"The scheduling, for me, is part and parcel of playing in any tennis tournament," he said. "It's tough to make the schedule perfect for every single player.

"I have no complaints about the schedule at all, and I didn't complain about it the other day."