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Andy Murray banishes New Year blues to get Britain off to winning start in Hopman Cup

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ANDY MURRAY may have cut a disgruntled figure around the practise courts of Perth this week but he banished the blues in fine style to get Britain off to a winning start in the Hopman Cup with a 2-1 victory over France.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Murray and Heather Watson enjoying themselves during the victory over France in the Hopman Cup </td></tr>
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Murray was far too good for the 6'7 Kenny De Schepper in the day's opening singles, exploiting the giant Frenchman's lack of agility to win 6-2, 6-2.</div>
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"He's a big guy and when those players impose themselves on you it's tough but if you can get them moving around, it's tricky for them," Murray said. "It's quite a quick surface here so if you can get the first strike in the rallies it's easy to stay on top of the point. I forced myself to do that and come forward and it worked well."</div>
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Heather Watson lost to Caroline Garcia in three sets, but Murray's quality proved decisive in the deciding mixed doubles which they won 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 against De Schepper and Garcia to set up a match with Australia on Wednesday.</div>
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Murray was satisfied with his tennis after some distinctly ropey practise sessions after arriving in North Australia a few days ago. "I've been really struggling," he revealed. "I never play my best tennis in practise but I just haven't been hitting well at all. It's really important for me to get to Australia early because the heat can be brutal, but I felt much better today."</div>
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Murray appeared to be clutching at his back a number of times during his win over De Schepper but he said it's simply the rigours of a particularly intense off season.</div>
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"People assume you're well rested in the first week of the year but it's actually the opposite," he explained. "You train very hard in December and when you come to the match court you find you're moving a bit quicker, the intensity's a bit higher and everything's a bit stiff and sore. The first match back is the toughest physically so it's definitely nothing to worry about."</div>
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Andy Murray banishes New Year blues to get Britain off to winning start in Hopman Cup

ANDY MURRAY may have cut a disgruntled figure around the practise courts of Perth this week but he banished the blues in fine style to get ...

US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QI6pEkn2LYSLo_up73MM9dff1bjkUDrK9QTKBfGsceROrVH1n7bebex7aRPKUkeReZrl2CftfGidSchGp5Ws0ca0kAjn_hxtzBny33GYg0BrDKAO5FhYYn6pc42O273A0_IM0k8JsuY/s1600/US+Open+set+for+Swiss+semi-final+as+Roger+Federer+and+Stan+Wawrinka+cruise+through.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QI6pEkn2LYSLo_up73MM9dff1bjkUDrK9QTKBfGsceROrVH1n7bebex7aRPKUkeReZrl2CftfGidSchGp5Ws0ca0kAjn_hxtzBny33GYg0BrDKAO5FhYYn6pc42O273A0_IM0k8JsuY/s640/US+Open+set+for+Swiss+semi-final+as+Roger+Federer+and+Stan+Wawrinka+cruise+through.jpg" title="US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stanislas Wawrinka (left) beat Rodger Federer at Roland Garros the last time these men met</td></tr>
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ROGER FEDERER will meet compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the US Open semi-finals after straight-sets victories for the Swiss pair last night.</div>
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Federer, seeking his 18th Grand Slam title, trounced Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-3 6-1 in just 87 minutes.</div>
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The 34-year-old didn't even face a break point as he dominated on his serve to see out the match with ease in New York.</div>
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And Wawrinka set up an all-Swiss affair with a 6-4 6-4 6-0 demolition of Kevin Anderson, who beat Andy Murray earlier this week.</div>
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Wawrinka beat Federer at the French Open this year and the latter admitted he is wary of his opponent.</div>
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"Stan played a wonderful match against me in Paris," Federer said.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkFgUdY1wWruEvS8sK0Yswa2roaFEj5K0muIMECzeAFuqU9dlLAPOfcEtNt50Giju5dPYV9JxjPkTmkIMQ6USZ6nOzWOs8Zo5d6nbNh_QfTtvG8M5iE24uascl-2-tIVm1U2m9lqZOs/s1600/US+Open+set+for+Swiss+semi-final+as+Roger+Federer+and+Stan+Wawrinka+cruise+through+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkFgUdY1wWruEvS8sK0Yswa2roaFEj5K0muIMECzeAFuqU9dlLAPOfcEtNt50Giju5dPYV9JxjPkTmkIMQ6USZ6nOzWOs8Zo5d6nbNh_QfTtvG8M5iE24uascl-2-tIVm1U2m9lqZOs/s640/US+Open+set+for+Swiss+semi-final+as+Roger+Federer+and+Stan+Wawrinka+cruise+through+2.jpg" title="US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serena Williams plays her semi-final at midnight tonight</td></tr>
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"He can consistently bring the power on forehand, backhand, and serve out almost anybody when he gets hot.</div>
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"It is cool for us to have two Swiss in the semi-finals."</div>
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World number one Novak Djokovic will play defending champion Marin Cilic in the other men's semi-final on Friday.</div>
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Meanwhile, Serena Williams will continue her bid for a season Grand Slam when she faces Roberta Vinci in the first women's semi-final on Arthur Ashe Stadium at midnight tonight.</div>
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The American beat her sister Venus in the previous round and a win would see her face either Romania's Simona Halep or Flavia Pennetta of Italy in the final.</div>

US Open set for Swiss semi-final as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka cruise through

Stanislas Wawrinka (left) beat Rodger Federer at Roland Garros the last time these men met ROGER FEDERER will meet compatriot Stanislas...

Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfelFXoPzlv-KnaG5YxZMnBDhNQDj8baQXUwMrMftDZ471IymOB8QqM2gHjGrztSr7O27f9u1i5hlaHh9R1pKmcHyuvDt90sbsVy3EjqOP7zet25bHQsD-_03F-ToiKgd8lYIEUt_nFA/s1600/Washout+at+US+Open+postpones+women%2527s+semis+as+Brit+Murray+makes+doubles+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfelFXoPzlv-KnaG5YxZMnBDhNQDj8baQXUwMrMftDZ471IymOB8QqM2gHjGrztSr7O27f9u1i5hlaHh9R1pKmcHyuvDt90sbsVy3EjqOP7zet25bHQsD-_03F-ToiKgd8lYIEUt_nFA/s640/Washout+at+US+Open+postpones+women%2527s+semis+as+Brit+Murray+makes+doubles+final.jpg" title="Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The US Open women's semi-finals were postponed yesterday after heavy rain</td></tr>
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THE US Open was postponed last night after heavy rain interrupted the women's singles semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.</div>
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Rain in New York has pushed Serena Williams' clash with Roberta Vinci back until this afternoon, with Simona Halep facing Flavia Pennetta first up at 4pm UK time.</div>
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Novak Djokovic's semi-final with defending champion Marin Cilic will go ahead straight after the women's matches, before Roger Federer meets Stan Wawrinka in an all-Swiss affair on Arthur Ashe Stadium.</div>
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Meanwhile, Brit interest in the tournament remains after Jamie Murray and his Australian partner John Peers reached the men's doubles final.</div>
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Murray, brother of two-time Grand Slam champion Andy, saved a match point to beat Americans Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (9-7).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypU6wGy6CMPkepl7Fd20ydbQdls6KOgtYIbI_kprrn6JXMjVthyiVjnx0izqHZ4RhQTvzTkt_gjOh3RtlJn3yOVBABf1nSYdV-57WQqkvHGOhyphenhyphenDBM2CvJJpS27dNEmIQ_kJvpmij5L3M/s1600/Washout+at+US+Open+postpones+women%2527s+semis+as+Brit+Murray+makes+doubles+final+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypU6wGy6CMPkepl7Fd20ydbQdls6KOgtYIbI_kprrn6JXMjVthyiVjnx0izqHZ4RhQTvzTkt_gjOh3RtlJn3yOVBABf1nSYdV-57WQqkvHGOhyphenhyphenDBM2CvJJpS27dNEmIQ_kJvpmij5L3M/s640/Washout+at+US+Open+postpones+women%2527s+semis+as+Brit+Murray+makes+doubles+final+2.jpg" title="Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Murray (right) and John Peers are into the men's doubles final<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Scot, who reached the Wimbledon doubles final with Peers back in July, already boasts a Grand Slam title from the 2007 mixed doubles event in SW19.</div>
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He said: "My nerves are shot but we're so happy to win and get to the final," said Murray.</div>
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"We played a very high level match and the other guys were serving really well but we managed to turn it around."</div>
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They will play French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.</div>

Washout at US Open postpones women's semis as Brit Murray makes doubles final

The US Open women's semi-finals were postponed yesterday after heavy rain THE US Open was postponed last night after heavy rain int...

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