Andy Murray set his sights on getting the better of an old friend after ending home hopes in the Australian Open in ruthless style in Melbourne.
Murray silenced a 15,000-strong crowd on Rod Laver Arena by using all his experience to beat talented teenager Nick Kyrgios 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 and set up a clash with Czech Tomas Berdych, who had earlier dispatched Rafael Nadal in similar fashion.
Berdych is coached by Murray’s long-term friend and former assistant coach Dani Vallverdu, who – along with fitness trainer Jez Green – left the Murray camp at the end of last season.
“It will be one of the most important things because Murray plays on patterns,” former world number four and British Eurosport pundit Greg Rusedski said.
“On his forehand in his forehand corner he goes cross court almost all the time, in his backhand corner with his forehand it’s always inside out. His second serves are predominantly on the backhand side and the serve is short.
“So for all of those little key areas, Dani will tell Berdych ‘Be prepared for this at this stage, this is what’s going to happen here.’ When you’ve been a friend of Andy and coached him for so long, you’re going to know those sorts of areas.”
Murray was reluctant to discuss Vallverdu in his post-match press conference, but joked: “We’ll see how the match plays out and what the tactics are and stuff. But I also know what Dani thinks of Berdych’s game because he’s told me, so it works both ways.”
Victory over Kyrgios improved Murray’s record against Australian players to 11-0 and saw him produce 13 aces and just one double fault, with the only minor blip coming when he let a break of serve slip in the third set.
That was the only time Murray faced break points and Kyrgios was quick to back Murray to go all the way to Sunday’s final and claim his third grand slam title.
“He was way too good for me,” the 19-year-old from Canberra said. “I said to him at the net, ‘This is your time; go get him.’ I think he’s got a really good chance of winning the whole thing.”
Kyrgios looked understandably edgy on such a big stage in his home grand slam and received a warning from the umpire for an audible obscenity as he battled to save two set points. And although he did so to force Murray to serve for the set, the 27-year-old did so with ease to take it after 32 minutes.
Kyrgios had to save a break point early in the second but was having no joy on Murray’s serve, the Scot dropping just three points on serve in the set before almost faltering when it mattered most in the tie-break.
A brilliant forehand lob helped Murray into a 5-4 lead with two serves to come, only for him to serve his first double fault of the contest after Kyrgios successfully challenged a line call.
However, a service winner earned his first set point – and had Kyrgios smashing his racket into the ground in disgust – before another superb lob, this time on the backhand, secured the set for a commanding lead.
Murray served his way out of a potentially difficult spot at 0-30 in the fifth game of the third set and immediately capitalised, taking his third break point in the next game with another superb lob that Kyrgios could not rescue, even with a shot played between his legs.
However, Kyrgios then forced his first break point of the entire match and although Murray saved that, an excellent return from Kyrgios gave him another which he won as Murray hit a tame backhand into the net.
Murray then appeared to cut a bandage off his left thigh at the change of ends and it looked to do the trick, the Olympic champion breaking serve again to take a 5-3 lead.
This time there was to be no lapse in concentration and Murray served out to take the match in two hours and five minutes.
Kyrgios could be heard during the match complaining that his troublesome back was “cooked” and added: “Two weeks ago I wasn’t even sure I’d be playing the event. It’s just been a massive couple of weeks just trying to get fit.
“I’m actually happy. I wanted to win tonight, but having said that, it’s been a massive couple of weeks. I am just happy that was I was able to compete. Obviously quarter-finals isn’t too bad either.”