Andy Murray was too smart, too respectful to say he was finally returning to championship-winning form ahead of his US Open quarter-final showdown on Wednesday with Novak Djokovic.
But Murray was certainly pleased to set up the grand slam blockbuster with a “stress-free” straight-sets fourth-round win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The less time on court against Tsonga, the more energy he’ll have to try to bring down the indefatigable Serbian world No.1.
The last time Murray and Djokovic clashed at Flushing Meadows, the Scot won the longest final in US Open history, a four-hour, 54-minute test of endurance and skill that ended Britain’s infamous 76-year grand slam men’s singles title drought.
Eight months earlier, Djokovic took four hours and 50 minutes to put Murray to bed in a similarly epic Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne.
“We play a fairly similar style and I think that’s why a lot of the matches have been long games, long rallies, long points because we do a lot of the same things well,” Murray said after nullifying Tsonga’s explosive power to progress with a 7-5 7-5 6-4 win on Monday.
Murray is into his 14th consecutive grand slam quarter-final, Djokovic his 22nd in a row – the Serb’s run of excellence bettered only by Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors.
“I’m very glad obviously that I had so many consecutive quarter-finals of grand slams. It says that I do value these tournaments the most,” Djokovic said after saving a second-set set point in his 6-1 7-5 6-4 fourth-round defeat of German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
“Andy, well, I think also he performs his best in the grand slams … in the big matches, as the tournament progresses, he’s still fit. He still plays very high quality tennis. That’s what I expect him to do.”
It’s what Murray expects from himself too.
“That’s really why we play the game. That’s what you put the work in for, so that when you come to these events and you do have to play against the best players that you’re ready,” he said.
“As much as it’s incredibly tough and challenging, the match, that’s what you enjoy, playing on Wednesday, Wednesday night against the No.1 player in the world.
“It is exciting. If you aren’t getting motivated or pumped for those matches, then that’s when there’s a problem and it’s time to maybe stop.”
Murray hasn’t reached a final – of any sort, at any level – since beating Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon decider.
Since then, the 27-year-old has endured back surgery, split with Ivan Lendl, dipped down the rankings and shocked the tennis world in June with his appointment of Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach.
But he hopes it’s all finally coming back together in New York.
“I don’t feel like I’m that far away from playing my best tennis,” Murray said.
“Obviously winning matches does build confidence.
“It’s still obviously a long way from trying to win the tournament, but it’s only nine sets now, three matches, and (I’ll) just try and take it one set at a time.
“Maybe (I’m) five, six days away from potentially winning another grand slam.”
Wednesday’s other semi-final will feature third-seeded Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka against either Croatian fifth seed Milos Raonic or Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori.
Wawrinka ousted Tommy Robredo – the Spaniard who eliminated Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios in the previous round – 7-5 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2, while Raonic and Nishikori were playing the Monday night feature match.
1-NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB) leads 9-ANDY MURRAY (GBR) 12-8 (3-2 in grand slams)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Age: 27
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US65,419,345 ($A70.78 million)
Career singles titles: 45
Grand slam titles: 7 (Australian Open 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013; Wimbledon 2011, 2014; US Open 2011)
US Open win-loss record: 49-8
Best US Open result: champion (2011)
ANDY MURRAY
Age: 27
Ranking: 9
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US32,083,768 ($A34.71 million)
Career singles titles: 28
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2013; US Open 2012)
US Open win-loss record: 37-8
Best US Open result: champion 2012
