Murray improves to 8-0 on grass in 2023

Andy Murray continued his unbeaten run on grass beating tricky youngster Stricker in two sets 7-6(2) 7-5 in Nottingham booking another semi-final.

Murray's grass season kicked off in Surbiton with the Brit moving through the draw with ease to end up with the trophy. Nottingham is going pretty similarly as well despite the courts playing differently than Surbiton. Nottingham plays more like Wimbledon so Murray was keen to try himself on them and he's in another semi-final.

He's now 8-0 on grass which is impressive even though he didn't face a single top player. Still, there have been solid grass players like Thompson in Kubler in there so it's not like he's beaten unknown players. This one was predictably tight as Sticker has a good serve which is hard to break on grass.

Murray didn't get to do it in the opening set but he didn't get broken either. Neither player allowed a single break point as Murray used his experience to grind down his younger opponent in the tiebreak 7-2. The second set opened with some complications as the Swiss player broke Murray early to take a lead but the Brit was able to battle back and make it 4-4. Killing that momentum for the youngster proved costly as Murray kept putting pressure on him and worked.

The Brit finished the set with a late rally taking it 7-5 as Stricker couldn't keep up the necessary level. Murray was excellent on the second serve of the Swiss player which is how you win on grass - use your chances. Murray serve pretty well and was good behind it which is crucial for him. If his serve is working well then the Brit can do a lot of damage. If it doesn't he leaves himself vulnerable in rallies but that wasn't a problem in this match.