Former world number one Andy Murray looked back to his best on grass as he beat Nick Kyrgios 7-6(5) 6-2 to move into the final of the Stuttgart Open after a second-set meltdown from the Australian.
The final is the 70th of Murray’s career and his second of the year after a runner-up finish in Sydney in January. The 35-year-old will face second seed Matteo Berrettini who is playing his first Tour-level final of the season.
There was nothing to separate the two players but in the tiebreak, Kyrgios found the net on consecutive points and Murray eventually sealed the set on his serve.
A frustrated Kyrgios broke his racket in anger and earned himself a point penalty after dropping the first set.
Earlier, second seed Berrettini of Italy booked his place in Sunday’s final with a 7-6(7) 7-6(5) victory over Oscar Otte of Germany in one hour 48 minutes.
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist battled through two tie-breaks to reach his first tour-level final of the
