2016 Roland Garros finalist Andy Murray won his quarterfinal match on Wednesday over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in four sets, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (0), 6-1.
Murray’s tennis was inconsistent, but Nishikori’s 45 errors to only 33 winners allowed the world No. 1 to advance.
2017 French Open men's semifinals
Murray (1) vs Wawrinka (3)
Nadal (4) vs Thiem (6)Wawrinka, Nadal & Thiem have yet to lose a set in #RG17
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) June 7, 2017
Murray gave up the first break of the match in a game that included two double faults and a time violation warning from umpire Carlos Ramos. Nishikori then consolidated to love for a 3-1 lead.
Nishokori later broke again with forehand winner for 5-2, and then held to love on a drop shot to take the set.
Hard to explain this regressive performance so far from Murray. Yes, Nishikori great, but Murray not doing much w/ the ball & totally flat.
— Catherine Whitaker (@CWhitakerSport) June 7, 2017
At 1-1 in the second, Murray’s service game went to a second deuce. Ramos called a time violation on Murray, and as a result, the Brit lost his first serve. Nishikori missed his return on the second serve, though, and Murray then finished the hold with a forehand winner.
In the game that followed, Nishikori lost his serve at 15 via a double fault. Murray went on to save two break points to consolidate for 4-1. He then broke Nishikori’s serve again on a backhand pass, and then held to 30 to win the set 6-1 and even the match at a set each.
In the third set, the players exchanged breaks for 3-3. Later on, Murray broke Nishikori at 15 for a 6-5 lead and a chance to serve for the set. He then lost his serve at 15, setting up a tiebreak.
Murray won the tiebreak 7-0, taking a two-sets-to-one lead.
Andy #Murray now leads 2 sets to 1! 2-6 6-1 7-6 vs Kei #Nishikori #RG17 pic.twitter.com/1N3DefUi7L
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) June 7, 2017
Nishikori responded by breaking Murray’s serve in the fourth set’s opening game. But he made too many mistakes in his follow-up service game, and Murray tied the set at 1.
That was just the beginning of a six-game run that enabled Murray to take the set 6-1 and the match in four sets.
Murray warming up. pic.twitter.com/Tf70uVPsMv
— Freedom Littleseal (@TheShiftyShadow) June 7, 2017
In the semifinals, Murray will face Stan Wawrinka, who beat 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in just an hour and 40 minutes. The pair met in the French Open semifinals last year, and Murray won 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
