Should Both Australian Open Men’s Semis be Played on the Same Day? Andy Murray Thinks So

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Should Both Australian Open Men’s Semis be Played on the Same Day? Andy Murray Thinks So

Speaking in his pre-final press conference at Melbourne Park, Andy Murray says that it would be better if both men’s semifinals were played on the same day.

“I do, yeah,” said Murray. “You want the players all to have the same opportunity.”

Murray played his semifinal on Thursday night in Melbourne, taking down Tomas Berdych in a tense four-set battle, while Novak Djokovic finished up 24 hours later after his five-set victory over Stanislas Wawrinka.

Murray is not sure whether or not the extra rest will actually help him when it comes time for Sunday night’s final in Melbourne.

“I was told that the player that's played the second semifinal I think has won like five or six of the last seven years, so I don't know exactly who it favors more,” Murray said. “Obviously if you have an extremely long match you would think the person that had the extra day's rest, it would favor them. But a couple years Novak recovered from -- I don't know how he did it, because I played against him in the semifinal and I could barely walk a couple days later. But he recovered from a five-hour match and then won the final in six hours. I don't really know who it favors, to be honest.”

Murray will bid for his third career Grand Slam title and try to nab one of the two Grand Slam titles that has eluded him in his career. Murray is a three-time finalist at the Australian Open, but he’s been runner-up on all three occasions, losing to Roger Federer in 2010 and Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2013.

“I've never won against him here before,” said Murray, who owns a 8-15 career record against Djokovic but is 2-2 against the Serb in their last four matches at majors. “I've lost to him each time that we've played. I think I've lost to him the last four or five times we played against each other, as well. Maybe only won one set in those matches. Yeah, I mean, it would be a big turnaround.”

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