Andy Murray keeps his hopes alive by defeating Milos Raonic at the O2

ANDY MURRAY last night pulled off a crucial straight-sets victory against Milos Raonic at the O2 Arena yesterday to get his campaign back on track.

 ACTION

Andy Murray was back to his best in easing to victory against big server Milos Raonic

The 6-3, 7-5 victory was the perfect response to a disappointing opening-day defeat by Kei Nishikori – although he must still beat Roger Federer tomorrow if he is to have any more than a slim mathematical chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

Raonic had to save two break points in only the fourth game of the match, but his careless smash and loose groundstrokes two games later eventually did give Murray a 4-2 cushion midway through the first set.

Unlike on Sunday, Murray was able to hold his nerve and, though Raonic made him fight, he served out the first set without mishap.

The second set was a closer affair. A cross-court return gave Murray a 2-1 lead but Raonic broke straight back and the pair were not troubled on serve until the 11th game when Murray found an answer to the Canadian’s big serve.

The Scot earned two break points and, when Raonic netted a half-volley, Murray had the break he needed.

Murray was taken to deuce but Raonic hit a return long to hand him victory, though he knows more than anybody there is still more work to do.

Even if Murray can beat Federer for the first time in 18 months, Nishikori could still qualify alongside the Swiss depending on the other group result.

And, unfortunately, it is a relatively rested Federer who lies in wait tomorrow after he barely broke sweat to see off Nishikori 6-3, 6-2.

Only a straight-sets win for the Scot over Federer, coupled with a big Nishikori win against Raonic, could still do for the Swiss.

“I’m happy, after two matches I’m standing here with two wins,” Federer said. “It’s very positive. Usually if you do win in straight sets twice, things look very, very good. And the advantage of being qualified, if that were to happen, is just that you can go into the match a bit more laid back.”

Not that Federer would have given Murray an easy ride of it if he had already secured a place in the last four – there would still have been much to play for.

“There’s the integrity of the game, and there’s so much still at stake for me, wanting to beat a fellow rival and wanting to win the points that are at stake, and go in with a clean sheet into the semis,” Federer said.

If Federer were to win, Murray could still sneak through if Raonic beats Nishikori, dependent on a complicated calculation involving their set scores for the whole tournament.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?