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By Chris Oddo | Friday June 17, 2016

You’ve heard of the term “back the Brits?” Well, this week Andy Murray is all about beating the Brits. The Great Scot mowed down another of his compatriots on Friday to reach the Queen’s club semis and keep alive his bid for a record fifth title in London.

More: Federer Says Thiem's Success Impressive but Not Surprising

It was the first ATP quarterfinal played between two players from Great Britain since Tim Henman defeated Greg Rusedski in the Adelaide quarterfinals in 2002.

Murray’s victim, the rising 21-year-old Kyle Edmund, nearly played the spoiler on Friday. Behind opportunistic play and an explosive forehand, Edmund rallied to grab the middle set from Murray, taking advantage of a few shaky moments from the world No. 2’s side of the court.

After the pair traded breaks in set two Murray was up 40-0 and about to level at three-all, but Murray slipped while going for a volley at the net to allow his opponent to get to deuce. From there, a rattled, possibly injured Murray netted a forehand as he gingerly tested his groin area between points. Before he could steady himself Edmund drilled a wicked forehand winner on the ensuing break point to regain the break and a 4-2 lead in the second set.

“I had pretty much a volley [to win the game] at the net,” Murray said. “That changed the match.”

Edmund closed out the set, but wouldn’t put up much resistance against an ornery Murray in the decider.

Murray broke for a 2-0 lead in set three and hollered “Let’s go,” as Edmund’s backhand sailed long. Two games later Murray had another break for 4-0. After a hold by Edmund to get to 5-1, Murray saved two break points (one with a service winner down the T, the other with a gorgeous backhand crosscourt winner) before closing out the match in one hour and 50 minutes.

Afterwards Murray dished some well-deserved praise in Edmund’s direction. “The forehand is a big shot,” he said. “That’s his main weapon. But the serve isn’t slow, either. When he’s landing first serves and then getting the first shot of the rally on his forehand, he can dictate a lot of the points.”

Murray will move on to face Marin Cilic in the semifinals on Saturday. The 2012 Queen’s Club champion battled past American Steve Johnson, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4.

Raonic Stays Hot

Under the watchful eye of John McEnroe (and the rest of his team), Milos Raonic continues to progress at Queen’s Club. The hard-serving Canadian pumped 19 aces past Roberto Bautista Agut and saved the only break point he faced to ease past the Spaniard, 6-1, 6-4.

Raonic improves to 30-7 on the season and 3-0 on grass.


The No. 3 seed will face Bernard Tomic in the semifinals. Tomic took down Gilles Muller in Friday’s last match to earn his first career win in five tries over Muller and book a spot in the Queen’s Club semis for the first time.

 

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