Murray magic

Williams: Murray can do anything on the court

I would like to see him sometimes hit the ball a bit harder, but again that will come as he muscles up and matures. He is a terrific player and it would have done him a lot of good to have won that match.

Gerry Williams
Quotes of the week

Gerry Williams believes that Andy Murray is the best British player since Fred Perry, after he watched the Scot power his way into the final of the Australian Open.

Murray booked his place in a second Grand Slam final with an impressive four-set victory over Marin Cilic and will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Cilic took the first set, but Williams was impressed as Murray settled into his game and proved far too strong as the semi-final wore on.

"I thought it was a terrific performance," Williams told Sky Sports News.

"Especially after the beginning because he looked very tense indeed. I have been saying for a long time that he is our best equipped tennis player since Fred Perry.

"Having got through that tension in the first set he started to play really well which was delightful to see. It was a totally different match tactically to the one he played against Rafael Nadal.

"Nadal is all brawn and muscle and you have to carve him up a bit - which I think Murray was doing. I think he would have won that match even if Nadal hadn't pulled out - which was a great pity for the match and the tournament.

"Today against Cilic, Murray was playing a player who is not that dissimilar to himself, but the difference is that there is nothing that Murray cannot do on a tennis court. He can chip, he can slice, he can top spin, he can serve strongly and he can volley," added Williams.

"I would like to see him sometimes hit the ball a bit harder, but again that will come as he muscles up and matures. He is a terrific player and it would have done him a lot of good to have won that match."

Murray may be one match away from becoming the first British man to win a Grand Slam event since Fred Perry; however Williams says he has one major obstacle to face.

"Well he has got to beat the best player I have ever seen - Roger Federer. There is a question mark about Federer and it is this: there comes a time - and I thought there were glimpses of it at Wimbledon - when for all Federer's genius, deep down in his heart he is going to wonder whether he really needs all of this.

"Murray has beaten Federer before and if he gets him into that sort of situation and into a really tight match then he may just do it."