Jamie Murray to meet Joe Salisbury in Australian Open men’s doubles semi-finals

Salisbury and Rajeev Ram, the defending champions, will now take on Murray and Bruno Soares, the 2016 winners, on Friday

Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil walk off the court (Getty)

There will be a British player in the Australian Open men’s doubles final after Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray booked a semi-final date in Melbourne with victories on Wednesday.

Defending champions Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram were first up and edged out Philipp Oswald and Marcus Daniell on Margaret Court Arena.

After grabbing a crucial tie break in the first set, the 2020 champions rallied in the second, pulling off two breaks to seal a 7-6 (6) 6-2 win.

Murray and partner Bruno Soares swiftly joined them in the final four though, out-duelling Marcelo Arevalo and Matwe Middelkoop in straight sets.

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Murray and Soares, seeded sixth, triumphed 6-3 6-4 victory behind a dominant serve game.

The British-Brazilian pair have picked up significant momentum this season with an unbeaten 8-0 record after reuniting for 2021, with happy memories from five years ago when they landed the title in Melbourne.

Alfie Hewett was denied a second title in Melbourne after he lost a thrilling men’s wheelchair singles final to Joachim Gerard by a 6-0 4-6 6-4 scoreline.

The 23-year-old teamed up with Scotland’s Gordon Reid on Tuesday to secure a British record-equalling 10th grand slam doubles title as a team.

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A day later and Hewett was out to win the Australian Open for the first time but looked set for a whitewash when he trailed 0-4 in the second set after he lost the opener 6-0. While an admirable reply was produced, he lost out in the decider to finish as runner-up.

“I am really proud of not tanking at six love, four love down so I am proud of myself for that comeback and for making it a final,” the four-time grand slam winner said in an emotional on-court interview.

“It’s been a long five weeks and ready to go home now. Thanks everyone.”

Additional reporting from PA