By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 12, 2022

 

Andy Murray is rounding into form ahead of the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals at Sydney.

Photo Source: Getty

Andy Murray is on the cusp of a personal milestone at the Sydney International. The 34-year-old Scot will face Belgium’s David Goffin for a spot in his first ATP semifinal since 2019 on Thursday.



Murray, who powered past Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, the No.2 seed, on Wednesday, 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3, owns a 6-0 lifetime record over Goffin.

Murray improved to 2-1 on the season (and 2-0 v Basilashvili) with his victory over Basilashvili, which lasted three hours and 15 minutes.

Murray will have to deal with a quick turnaround after playing the night session on Wednesday, which should test his fitness level against Goffin.

“I have been put on early tomorrow,” he said. “So, yeah, I need to get back and get myself to sleep, because I've got, yeah, 3:30 or 4:30 currently I'm scheduled to play. Need to get some rest before playing that one. He's also coming back from, you know, some injuries… So, yeah, he'll be eager to have a good run this week, as well.”

31-year-old Goffin ended his 2021 season after the US Open due to a left knee injury.

Murray owns a 94-40 lifetime record in ATP quarterfinals. He lost his last two in 2021, to Hubert Hurkacz in Metz and Tommy Paul in Stockholm.

Nakashima Tops Fognini

A strong win for American Brandon Nakashima, who topped Fabio Fognini 7-6(7), 7-6(6) to set an all-American quarterfinal with Reilly Opelka. The 20-year-old World No.68 is a promising talent, and many expect big things from him.

The rest of the quarterfinals line up as follows in Sydney:

[1] Karatsev v [5] Sonego
[3] Evans v Cressy or [6] Lajovic
Nakashima v [4] Opelka
[8] Goffin v Murray