Andy Murray beats Kei Nishikori in Madrid semis, to face Nadal in summit clash

Andy Murray will vie for back-to-back clay court titles after winning in Munich last week

Andy Murray continued his amazing run on clay this season as he beat Kei Nishikori in the Madrid Open semifinals 6-3, 6-4 in a clash lasting over 90 minutes. Prior to this season, the Scot hadn’t made it to even a single clay court final, but this season, Murray is yet to lose a match on clay, reaching back to back clay court finals in Munich, where he won, and now in Madrid.

Andy Murray, who lost to qualifier Santiago Giraldo early on last year in the tournament, today blazed all over the court with his heavy groundstrokes against the Jap, who reached the finals of the tournament last year, but had to retire due a back injury after he had won the first set against Rafael Nadal.

Murray remained aggressive throughout on this occasion, coming up and attacking the second serve and also winning majority of the short rallies. His backhands were on fire, as he ripped down-the-line backhand winners and heavy crosscourt backhand strokes to trouble Nishikori in the corners. Nishikori didnt have enough winners to back up his unforced errors, and he could not hold his service games comfortably.

Andy Murray will have the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, as his opponent for the final, as the former bids to win just the second clay court title of his career after he lifted the BMW Munich Open trophy last week. Andy Murray won the Madrid Open in 2008, but then it was played on an indoor hard court surface.