MELBOURNE – Andy Murray reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time on Tuesday when defending champion Rafa Nadal quit with a leg injury midway through the third set.

The Scotsman took everything the Spaniard threw at him before seizing his opportunities to open up a 6-3 7-6 3-0 lead when Nadal, who had called in the trainer to treat his leg earlier in the set, shook his head and informed Murray that he could no longer continue.

Murray's win would have given him real hope that he could be on the verge of ending Britain's 74-year wait for a men's grand slam champion and he will take on Croatia's Marin Cilic for a place in the final.