The Briton came storming back after a slow opening set to beat the number seven seed 6-7, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 and move into his eighth Grand Slam final.

Murray will now play either world number one Novak Djokovic or defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the final following the pair's semi-final encounter tomorrow.

A gruelling 76 minute opening set fell the way of Berdych after he saved set point with a fine volley in the tie-breaker, before Murray knocked a forehand into the net to drop behind.

The Czech, who beat Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2006 in the quarter-finals, then suffered an unexpected collapse as Murray's game began to flow.

Sixth seed Murray claimed 14 of the next 16 points to move into a 3-0 lead, and was unstoppable as he surged to a 6-0 whitewash to completely turn the match on its head.

Murray's momentum did not falter in the third set and, despite Berdych re-finding some of his intensity and purpose, the Briton belted consecutive down-the-line forehand winners to break for 4-2.

With the break in hand, Murray consolidated it with a service hold to love, and two games later, secured a two-sets-to-one lead with an ace.

Andy Murray came from a set down to storm to victory against Thomas Berdych
©Getty Images



The fourth set resembled much of the first as Berdych steadied the sails.

Games continued on serve until the 11th where the Czech crumbled under the pressure to produce three errors from the back of the court - with a double fault sandwiched among them - and hand Murray a 6-5 lead.

A comfortable service hold, ending on a superb ace down the middle, ensured Murray the victory in three hours and  26 minutes and his chance at a third Grand Slam title following the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013. 

In the women's contest, Serena William and Maria Sharapova will face off in Saturday's (January 31) final after each recorded straight sets victories in their semi-final encounters.

Top seed Williams powered through the second set to beat fellow American Madison Keys 7-6 (7-5) 6-2, while world number two Sharapova breezed through her all-Russian encounter with Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2.

Williams took nine match points to seal her win, letting eight points slip by at 5-1 before finally wrapping up the win with a powerful ace.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion, who has won the Australian Open on five occasions, came from 3-0 down to clinch the first set with a huge serve in the tie-break.

The 19-year-old Keys seemed to lose her resolve in the second set as Williams' power came to the forefront on her young compatriot's second serve to secure a berth in her sixth Australian Open final.

Maria Sharapova recorded a comfortable victory against compatriot Ekaterina Makarova to progress to her 10th Grand Slam final ©Getty Images



Sharapova took one hour and 27 minutes to beat 10th seed Makarova for the sixth time in six meetings.

Despite a testing opening, the world number two eased into a 4-1 lead and looked well on her way to maintaining her 100 per cent record against the 26-year-old Makarova.

A break here gave Makarova hope of recovering the set as the scoreline closed to 4-3, however, an immediate break back allowed Sharapova to serve out the set in 48 minutes.

A double break in the second set Sharapova on her to a 3-0 lead, with Marakova's chances disintegrating by the minute.

Six games in a row moved the score to 4-0 and, after saving two break points at 4-1, the 2008 champion sealed a place in her 10th Grand Slam final.

It will not be easy for the Russian here, however, with Williams holding a 16-2 record over Sharapova, and remaining unbeaten by the Russian since 2004.

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