Wawrinka beats Murray, Djokovic in semis
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E-mail Xinhua, September 6, 2013
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Andy Murray of Britain returns the shot during the men's singles quarterfinal match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, United States on Sept. 5, 2013.(Xinhua/Wang Lei) |
Defending champion Andy Murray of Britain failed to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals after losing the round of eight match to Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday.
Murray didn't get any break points in the two hours 15 minutes match, while Wawrinka had 11. The world number 10 Swiss hit as many as 45 winners throughout the match, exactly three times of Murray's 15.
"I thought he played great," said Murray about his opponent.
"That was the hardest part of the match. 5-4 game in the first set was important game. I had a chance to close it out; he had quite a few chances. I made a few mistakes."
The first set was going fine for both players until Murray's service game after 5-4. The winner of Wimbledon saved as many as six set points, but still lost the game and the set to Wawrinka.
The second set went on in favor of the Swiss, who finished another break in the sixth game to extend the lead to 4-2, and then served out the set 6-3.
Murray could do nothing to battle back. The world number three lost another two games to finish the match 6-2.
It was the first time since 2004 for a U.S. Open defending champion to miss the semifinals. "I don't think I was playing poorly," said Murray about his tournament performance.
"I got to the quarter-finals of a Slam, which isn't easy."
It was the first time in Wawrinka's career to reach last four at a Grand Slam tournament.
"It's amazing for me to be in the first semifinal in a Grand Slam, especially after beating Andy Murray, defending champion," said Wawrinka after the match.
"He just won Wimbledon too. He's a great champion."
Wawrinka beat Murray for the second straight time. The 28-year-old big server defeated Murray 6-1, 6-2 in a round of 16 match at ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo earlier this year. However, beating a world number three player without offering any break point wasn't easy.
"My level of tennis right now is quite good," said Wawrinka. "I'm really confident with myself, with my game on the court."
Wawrinka would next meet No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic in the semifinal.
Djokovic needed four sets to outscore Russian talent Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.
It was the seventh straight semifinal U.S. Open show for Djokovic, and the Serbian powerhouse had already reached at least semifinal in 14 straight Grand Slam tournaments.
"Level of confidence is right at the top, very close, because I have been playing most of my matches here very aggressive, very dominantly," said Djokovic.
"I have been very satisfied with my performances overall in the whole tournament so far. And even tonight, even though I dropped a set, I feel I was in control."
Wawrinka had a 11-game losing streak against Djokovic.
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