Australian Open Tennis / Tony Keen / 28 January 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Scottish star Andy Murray will take aim at his first grand slam title, while Belgian phoenix, Justine Henin, will rise from the ashes to reach her third Australian Open final, predicts Tony Keen.

Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)

Marin Cilic became the first Croat to reach the semi finals of the Australian Open with his marathon 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 win over American Andy Roddick.

The 21-year-old now faces Andy Murray, who moved into the third grand slam semi-final of his career after Spaniard Rafael Nadal retired hurt mid-way through their quarter-final. This meant that Murray, who was leading, 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 3-0, when Nadal called it quits due to a knee injury, is yet to lose a set during the Open.

Given he has won three of their last four meetings, the Scotsman will head into the clash with plenty of confidence, although Cilic did win the most recent encounter in straight sets at last year's US Open.

Both players have very different strengths. Cilic boasts a big power game. Murray is regarded as one of the best counter-punchers on the tour. Yet possibly the defining difference between the two is that Murray hasn't dropped a set at Melbourne Park this year, whereas Cilic has endured three five-setters.

This leaves a major question mark over whether Cilic has enough left in the tank to overcome the 22-year-old in what promises to be a high-intensity match.

Expect Murray, the first Brit male to reach the last four at the Australian Open since 1977, to grind down his battle-weary opponent and win in four sets.

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Jie Zheng (CHI)

Justine Henin is just two wins away from becoming the second Belgian star to claim a grand slam title shortly after coming out of retirement, following Kim Clijsters win in the US Open last year.

First up, however, she must get past surprise packet Jie Zheng who completely outclassed Russian Maria Kirilenko, 6-1 6-3, to emulate her feat at Wimbledon in 2008 when she became the first Chinese player to reach a grand slam singles' semi-final.

Henin has shown her true grit in wins over No.5 seed Elena Dementieva, No.27 seed Alisa Kleybanova, fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer and Russian No.19 seed Nadia Petrova, and will deservedly go in as heavy favourite against the unseeded Zheng, who she defeated, 6-2 6-4, in their only previous meeting back in 2005.

Zheng possesses admirable fighting qualities and will undoubtedly battle hard, but Henin's vast stroke array, and ability to play the big points well, will see her prevail in straight sets.