Andy Murray can’t remember if he has ever won a match on his birthday, but the British second seed is hoping to make today’s celebrations memorable with a maiden Rome Masters title.
The 28-year-old cruised into his maiden final in the Italian capital after sweeping lucky loser Lucas Pouille aside 6-2, 6-1 in a rain-interrupted semi-final yesterday.
The Scot remains on course to meet world number one Novak Djokovic if he overcomes Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the other semi-final, a week after the Serbian beat Murray in the Madrid final.
“I’d love to win the final and get another Masters title on the clay and my first title here,” said Murray, who claimed his maiden clay-court title in April last year in Munich and his maiden Masters title on the surface soon after with victory in Madrid. “I haven’t won many matches on my birthday before. I don’t remember winning any, which isn’t a good sign. Hopefully tomorrow that will change.”
Djokovic leads their ongoing 32-game ATP rivalry 23-9, and none of Murray’s wins have come on the red dirt. But Murray’s clay-court game has been progressing this year.
Beating Djokovic will be a tall order, especially after the Serbian buried any doubts over his form in the lead-up to the French Open with a convincing quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal on Friday.
Murray suffered defeat to Nadal in the semi-finals of Monte Carlo last month and, although he brushed off suggestions Djokovic is not on top of his game, he is hoping to make his 29th birthday one to remember.
After facing statistically weaker opposition in the shape of Belgian David Goffin in the quarters, then lucky loser Pouille in the semis, Murray will have to step up his game significantly if he is to beat Djokovic for the first time in a clay court final.
The pair’s rivalry stretches back more than 10 years, since well before they were fledgling professionals, and they are known to have a strong and friendly relationship off the court.
Djokovic has shown some chinks in his armour in Rome, notably losing a first set 6-0 to Brazilian Tomaz Bellucci on Thursday before turning the match around to cruise into the quarter-finals.
Again, on Friday, the Serbian admitted he struggled at the start of both sets before fighting his way back into the game to beat seven-time Rome champion Nadal 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
But the numbers speak for themselves, and Murray said: “Maybe he hasn’t started some tournaments well. I saw a little bit of yesterday’s match, and it was a very good level.
“I think Novak is playing extremely well this year. He’s winning and that’s a sign of someone who’s very confident.”
A win would be welcome, but Murray said that simply the prospect of a three-set Masters final with Djokovic can only boost what he believes has been a good preparation for the French Open.
“Any time you play the best players it’s great,” added Murray. “The French Open starts in a fortnight and you don’t get any better preparation for that than playing the best players in the world. My preparation has gone extremely well leading up to Roland Garros.”
Serena sets up final date with Keys
On the women’s side, three-time champion Serena Williams said she can’t wait after setting up the first all-American women’s clay-court final in 14 years, with an Italian Open final against Madison Keys. The last time two Americans faced off in the final of a WTA clay-court event was in 2002, when Williams beat her older sister Venus to win her maiden French Open at Roland Garros.
Williams, who will aim for her fourth and second successive title in Paris in a fortnight, said earlier this week she was excited to see a new crop of younger Americans emerging from her shadow. And she is now looking forward to meeting 21-year-old Keys after she upset Spain’s third seed Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 earlier in the day.
“Yeah, it’s great. I think it will be wonderful because I feel like Madison is one of the players that really can be great and she has that potential, and now she’s showing that on all surfaces,” said Williams. “You know, we’re an all-American final on the clay. That’s just—it’s great. It’s really exciting.”
Despite Rome being Williams’ first event of the season, the French Open champion booked her final spot with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 semi-final win over Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu as she looks for a fourth crown in the Eternal City. “I feel like everything is kind of coming together,” said Williams.
The 34-year-old American has won three titles in the Italian capital, in 2002, 2013 and 2014 and she pulled out of the tournament last year with an elbow injury after his first match.
Speaking before Williams won her semi-final, Keys admitted “it would mean a lot for me” to be facing Williams for the third time in her career. “If it’s Serena, I’m going to go out and do my best. You know, I’m really excited for it,” she said.
Williams has beaten Keys twice, both times during Grand Slams. But Keys said she won’t be bowing to her more successful and more experienced compatriot. “I played her pretty close the first set of the Australian Open. So (it) definitely made me realise that I can stay in it,” she said. “I think if you’re kind of able to weather the storm and stay with her, that, you know, every once in a while you get one or two opportunities and it’s (all about) taking those opportunities.”
Andy Murray
