Sydney Tennis Classic: Andy Murray beats David Goffin; Kasatkina upsets Muguruza to reach semi-final

Sydney, Jan. 13 (IANS): Britain’s Andy Murray reached the Sydney Tennis Classic semi-finals after his opponent David Goffin was forced to retire in the middle of their last-eight match, here on Thursday.

Former World No 1 won the opening set 6-2 against the former world No 7 before Goffin pulled out of the match, just a game after receiving treatment to the back of his knee.

It is the first time that Murray has reached a tour-level semi-final since Antwerp in 2019. The Scot went on to win the title in Belgium three years ago, defeating former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final.

The wild card will now play American Reilly Opelka in the semi-finals following the fourth seed’s 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over countryman Brandon Nakashima in a 83-minute clash.

“It’s obviously been a while for me. I have been getting closer in the last few months, and my results would suggest that. So it’s good to get there this early in the season. Hopefully I can keep building from here and have a strong year,” said Murray.

“I want to try and win tournaments again. That’s one of the reasons why I’m still playing, because I believe I can still do that. I’m a couple of matches away from winning another one and I’ll give it my best effort to do that,” he added.

Meanwhile, top-seeded Russian Aslan Karatsev overcame Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals.

The World No 20, who was voted 2021 Most Improved Player of the Year, triumphed after two hours and 49 minutes in a hard-fought encounter.

Karatsev will now face Daniel Evans in the semis after the third seed edged American Maxime Cressy 6-4, 7-6(5) in one hour and 52 minute match. Evans won his first tour-level title in Australia last season at the Murray River Open in Melbourne.

Kasatkina upsets Muguruza in Sydney, to face Badosa in semis

Daria Kasatkina defeated No.2 seed Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinal of the Sydney Tennis Classic, here on Thursday.

Kasatkina will face No.5 seed Paula Badosa who overcame Belinda Bencic 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Kasatkina, who reached the last four at Melbourne Summer Set 2 last week before losing to Amanda Anisimova, has yet to drop a set in Sydney. This efficiency has snapped the run of four three-setters the Russian has played against Muguruza dating back to 2017; her first straight-sets win of their rivalry levels the overall head-to-head at three apiece.

The victory is also Kasatkina’s first Top 5 win since defeating Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round of Roland Garros 2018, and her ninth overall.

“I think this is the best start of my career ever. I think I never start the season that well. To win always feels amazing. Doesn’t matter if you are winning the matches right before a slam and you maybe feel you’re tired – it doesn’t matter, because better you win the matches than you lose the first round, and then you go and you have one week to practice, but for what? You have been practicing the whole preseason,” said Kasatkina after the match.

In the second quarterfinals, Badosa has dominated their professional rivalry, led 5-3 in the first set, but ultimately needed six set points to close out Bencic, who was contesting her second match of the day after completing a rain-delayed comeback over Oceane Dodin earlier.

Despite coming out on the wrong end of the first-set tussle, the Olympic gold medallist Bencic bounced back to take the second thanks to a slew of dropshots. However, Badosa proved stronger in the closing stretch as Bencic faded somewhat.

“The key was to stay fighting until the end, like I always try to do,” said Badosa. “Accepting her good moments, because I think she played amazing and I had a lot of chances and I wasn’t taking them. Then I think in the third set I was going for it, very aggressive, and that’s what gave me the match.”

Cap: Andy Murray of Britain shakes hands with David Goffin of Belgium after Goffin retired following an injury during their men’s singles quater-final match at the Sydney Classic tennis tournament in Sydney on January 13, 2022