Andy Murray roars with delight after beating Kei Nishikori to reach the French Open semi-finals.

Umpire’s sanction spurs World No 1 on to join in-form trio in semi-finals

Andy Murray feels the odd man out after arriving at the French Open playing “garbage” but that did not stop him reaching a fourth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros.

The world No 1 has played himself into form in Paris this fortnight and will meet Stan Wawrinka tomorrow after a 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-0) 6-1 victory over Kei Nishikori.

Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will meet in the other last-four clash after the young Austrian stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-0.

Nadal, Thiem and Wawrinka are yet to drop a set this tournament while Murray has lost three, and their buildups were rather different too.

The Scot, who lost back-to-back matches to Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini in Madrid and Rome, said: “They are all obviously playing extremely well.

“Rafa’s had a great clay-court season, as has Thiem. Stan this tournament has played great. He won in Geneva so is obviously confident.

“I came in playing garbage. I’m the odd one out in the semis, but hopefully I can keep it up.”

Murray’s match against Nishikori was not the best advertisement for his improved form. Both men struggled with the cool, windy conditions, and, after a terrific first set, Nishikori’s play was up and down like a yo-yo.

Murray was just the steadier, although he also played some poor games, dropping serve twice in the third set – both times immediately after breaking Nishikori – and once to start the fourth.

The good news was that he found a way to get over the line reasonably comfortably and will now hope to replicate last year’s win over Wawrinka at the same stage, one of his best ever performances on clay.

Murray said: “It wasn’t the best match. It was tricky out there.

“Physically, I feel great. Today’s match wasn’t particularly long, and there were not many long rallies.

“When we play normally, we have a lot of long points.

“Personally I think it was down to the conditions. It was very windy down on the court. There wasn’t much rhythm out there.

“Obviously if someone had offered me a semi-final spot before the tournament, I would have signed up for that because I was not playing well at all. And practice also was not good.

“It’s been really good so far. I want to keep going.”

The turning point seemed to come at deuce in the third game of the second set, when Murray caught his ball toss and was sanctioned by umpire Carlos Ramos for taking too long.

Having already received a time violation early in the opening set, Murray was penalised a first serve.

He argued his case with Ramos to no avail but the Scot is never more dangerous than when he has a sense of grievance.

After a shaky second serve was dumped long by Nishikori, the eighth seed went completely off the boil and did not win another game in the set.

Murray said: “Obviously for a couple of points after that I was fired up, because I was frustrated at that moment.

“It felt to me like it was a strange decision. I have never seen anyone get a warning after they have missed the ball toss.

“I don’t know how much impact that had, it’s not like I played a great point the next point. Kei missed a second-serve return, and then I think a good serve on the next point.

“But that was a critical period of the match because he started way better than me. From there I started to do a bit better.”

Nadal criticised Ramos earlier in the tournament after also being penalised a first serve, saying he felt the umpire was looking for him to slip up, while the Portuguese official had a run-in with Djokovic as well.

Time violations are a contentious issue, with players allowed 25 seconds between serves in regular tour events but only 20 seconds at grand slams.

Murray is likely to have his work cut out to repeat last year’s success against Wawrinka.

The 2015 champion demolished Marin Cilic, who has been in fine form himself this fortnight, 6-3 6-3 6-1 in just an hour and 40 minutes.

Djokovic was at a loss to explain the shocking ending to his title defence.

Twelve months after becoming the first man in 47 years to hold all four grand slam titles, Djokovic exited Roland Garros to Thiem.

Most stunning was the manner of his collapse in the third set. Djokovic won just eight points and appeared to give up.

Eurosport commentator John McEnroe accused Djokovic of tanking, adding: “It’s almost as if you can’t believe what you’re watching, and in a match of this magnitude.”

It was the first time Djokovic has lost a set 6-0 at a grand slam since 2005 and means he will drop out of the world’s top two for the first time in six years.

The 30-year-old said: “I don’t expect myself to play as bad as I played in the third. I don’t visualise that ever.

“It was decided I think in the first set. I tried. I lost that crucial break in the beginning of the second, and he started serving better, backing it up with the first shot. He was definitely the better player on the court.”

Thiem’s performance certainly should not be overlooked. The 23-yearold Austrian is one of the game’s rising stars and he played with bravery and intelligence, while his one-handed backhand was the shot of the match.

Nadal moved into a 10th French Open semi-final after Pablo Carreno Busta retired with an abdominal problem trailing 6-2 2-0.

The title favourite, who has gone on to lift the trophy the other nine times he has made the last four, has lost just 22 games in five matches so far.

I came in playing garbage. I’m the odd one out in the semis, but hopefully I can keep it up. ANDY MURRAY

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