Points won by each set: | 28-36, 34-28, 33-23, 30-19 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
20 % Murray – 22 of 107
24 % Cilic – 30 of 124

Even though Murray was higher ranked [4 vs 14] and had already played one major final (US Open 2008) while Cilic entered his first semifinal at this level, the Scot wasn’t a clear favourite due to their previous match a few months earlier at the US Open – Cilic won it 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 not being broken once. The Croat managed to prolong that streak to the 2nd set in Melbourne. Between 1st & 2nd sets, he won 14 straight points! Murray finally stopped it at *0:1 (0/30), and converted his 13th break point (counting their match in New York) at 2-all with a forehand passing-shot after Cilic’s lob. Murray made an enormous roar to celebrate [see the picture], and indeed the moment was worth it – shifted the momentum onto Murray’s side. Cilic had had much tougher route to the semifinal, once broken he started to fade, and Murray absolutely controlled the final outcome for the last two hours of the match.