Australian Open 2017: Andy Murray destroys Sam Querrey to ease into 4th round… is he finally to win Aus Open after five losing finals?
ANDY MURRAY is on the march... and the way he played here today, it wouldn’t matter whether Novak Djokovic was standing in his way or not.
Twenty-four hours after his nemesis tumbled to defeat, the Wimbledon champion and world No1 pulled all the big shots out of his locker to dismantle big-hitting Sam Querrey 6-4 6-2 6-4.
It was a hugely impressive performance in the carnival atmosphere of Hisense Arena, an hour and 59 minutes when the 29-year-old from Dunblane really did look like a potential champion.
Was it the perfect performance? No - and he wasn’t slow to beat himself out loudly whenever he dropped below his best. But that’s just the guy he is, never willing to accept anything but his own absolute best.
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As Saltires and Union Jacks waved all around the packed stadium, Murray said: “The key moments were at 3-4 in the first set when I saved break point, then broke straight away.
“I felt fine after that and I’m delighted to get through. Maybe I was a bit hesitant at the start, because my ankle was a little bit sore, but I felt better and better as the match went on. By the end I was moving well and that’s really positive.
“It was cooler today and I’ve now played in all the conditions now - hot, windy, cool, day, night - and that’s helpful. Now I just want to keep it going.
“I like Hisense and it’s nice that the place was packed from the first ball too. That means a lot to players, it really helps the atmosphere.”
It was an atmosphere that cranked up from that moment Murray talked about, the one where he broke the American to tee up the opening set.
Off the back of saving break point to hold for 4-4, he produced a cameo that contained more quality shots than some guys produce in a whole match.
It started with a terrific change of direction and pick-up from down at his toes that startled Querrey at the net. Three times he then whipped top-spun crosscourt forehands winners.
After two break points were saved, he set up a third with some classic defence, two enormous baseline-to-baseline lobs eventually forcing his opponent to go long.
And then, the piece de resistance. A gorgeous lob, leaving Querrey turning, open-mouthed, to watch it drop in play as the Scot fist-pumped.
When he’s in that form, the man’s a joy to watch. An artist. Not to mention an absolute pain in the backside to try and combat.
Murray served out for 6-4 and was soon ahead in the second set, a rattled Querrey playing four really poor shots to hand over the cheapest of breaks. At 4-2, Murray raced to 0-40 on the Querrey serve and broke again.
When he turned the American’s serve over yet again in the opening game of the third, it looked like it all might run away at the speed of light.
But this was the point where he got umpty with himself, yelling and stomping as he allowed Querrey to break back for 2-2, moaning to his coaching box that “my legs hurt” and firing off his only properly loose shots of the afternoon.
The mini-slump didn’t last long, though. At 4-4, he cranked up the pressure to grind out one more break - and in no time, it was over.
Three rounds down, three straight sets wins and his greatest rival on a plane home.
Not a bad start - even by this fella’s sky-high standards.