Murray, Cilic advance to set up semifinal clash at Queen's Club
LONDON - Andy Murray continued the defense of his title at Queen's Club on Friday, reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory against Kyle Edmund in an all-British match.
Top-seeded Murray struggled to gain the upper hand against his Davis Cup teammate, wasting an early break in the first set before breaking again to lead 4-3.
The 21-year-old Edmund took a 3-1 lead in the second set, and although Murray immediately broke back he fell heavily in the next game and dropped his serve.
Murray failed to capitalize on three break points as 85th-ranked Edmund served for the set, but then took charge in the final set by winning the first five games.
''(Edmund) is the future of the game in this country,'' Murray told BBC Sport.
Four-time champion Murray will next face 2012 winner and fifth-seeded Marin Cilic after the Croat edged American Steve Johnson 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
Neither player earned a break point in the opening set, and the match remained close after Johnson claimed the tiebreaker. Just one break of serve decided the second set, and in the third Cilic needed to fight off three break points to hold for 1-1 before snatching a decisive break at 4-4.
''Very tough,'' said Cilic. ''He was giving me a lot of trouble with his serve.''
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