The hard work is finally paying off for Andy Murray as has overcome his fatigue problems and finally winning tight matches, like the ones he has won at the Qatar Open.

Murray endured cramping and fatigue woes during the latter stages of the 2022 season and it became so problematic that he underwent sweat tests ahead of the US Open as he needed answers.

He was none the wiser about his problems after the tests came back clear and he admitted “I don’t really know why it has happened”.

And just as quickly as those problems appeared they now seem to have disappeared as he has notched up marathon match after marathon match so far in 2023.

He spent more than 14 hours on court at the Australian Open as he played two five-set matches and one four-setter en route to a third-round exit.

That theme has continued in Doha as he has won three three-setters to reach the semi-final. After beating Lorenzo Sonego and Alexander Zverev, Murray’s quarter-final clash wasn’t as tight, but he still had to go the distance before beating Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

“The last couple of years I lost quite a lot of close matches, and it’s something I spoke to my team about last year,” Murray said after his latest victory. “I think the work I did in the offseason on my game, physically has given me a bit more belief in those moments.

“I think when you’re in better shape, when you start to fatigue, it helps you make better decisions. If you’re struggling quite a bit physically towards the end of matches and in those important moments, it makes you maybe try and shorten the points, or play a different way, which doesn’t give you the best chance of winning. I feel like that improvement physically has helped in those moments.”

The former world No 1 will take on Jiri Lehecka in his 102nd ATP Tour semi-final, but he is eyeing a 47th title and first since 2019 in Antrwerp.

“I want to win multiple [titles],” he said in his press conference. “I mean, obviously I’d love to win one, but I have goals to achieve more than that.”

He added: “I feel like these last few weeks are a step in the right direction, and if I continue to play and compete like I am just now, I’ll have, you know, not just one opportunity to win a title, but I’ll have more chances to do that in this last stage of my career.”

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