Game, Set and Mats: Why losing first set was key for Andy Murray

Published 05/05/2015 at 10:02 GMT

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander is convinced that losing the first set was the catalyst Andy Murray needed to topple Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open semi-finals.

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Murray was unable to capitalise on a set point in the opener, but the British number one tweaked his tactics to win through 6-7 6-0 6-3 7-5.

He will face either Novak Djokovic or defending champion Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s final.

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Wilander was impressed with the alterations Murray made during the encounter, praising how he altered his style to be more aggressive and practically mimicking his opponent’s style.

“He changed his tactics a little bit in the second set,” said Wilander. “He took the ball a little bit earlier, hit the ball a little bit flatter and took it out of Tomas Berdych’s hands.

“He was controlling the rallies, coming forward. He’s got so much variety in his game. That is the difference – he can go to different tactics.

“He played his way in the first set and nearly won it. Then he turned it and almost played like Tomas Berdych does in the second set – and won that by hitting hard, hitting clean winners.

Murray – who is targeting a first Grand Slam title in 18 months – looks to be back to the form that saw him clinch titles at the Olympics, US Open and Wimbledon in a remarkable 12-month spell.

And Wilander partly attributes this upturn in form to his improved mood.

“That’s the key for Andy Murray,” he said. “He’s having fun these days. He’s loving the competition and is in a really good mood.”

There was tension during the opening exchanges between the players’ camps – inevitable, given Murray’s former coach Dani Valverdu is now in the corner of Berdych.

But this only heightened the occasion, Wilander insisted.

“In the beginning of the match there were a few looks back and forth,” he said. “I was loving it.

“A tennis match – to be really fun to watch – is not about the level of tennis, but the level of intensity and about the level of ‘hating to lose’. It had it all. Expect a fifth set…”