Andy Murray Reaches Tennis Semifinals

Andy Murray put his recent poor form behind him to thrash Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 and reach the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters for the third time.

Murray struggled through his opening two matches against Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benoit Paire, trailing by a set and a double break against the latter on Thursday before somehow finding a way through.

Perhaps surviving that scare -- with a lot of help from a nervous opponent -- snapped Murray back into gear as he was focused and ruthless against an ailing Raonic.

"The two most important shots in tennis I played really well today," Murray told Sky Sports after his victory on Friday. "I served very well and then my return was very good today. When he missed the first serve I was being very offensive on the second. "The serve and the return were the best they've been in a while, and I'm glad because they haven't been so strong over the last couple of matches."

Raonic has stepped up a level this season and pushed Murray to the limit in the semifinals of the Australian Open. But physical frailty cost him that day -- a groin injury hampering his game -- and it was the same again on the Mediterranean coast.

He received treatment to his leg in his third round win over Damir Dzumhur, the second successive match in which he was taken to a deciding tie-break.