Andy Murray makes it a mint Friday for Brits at Nottingham Open

<p>Andy Murray completed a clean sweep of British victories on Nottingham's Centre Court to make it through to the semi-finals of the Rothesay Open.</p>

<p>After Jodie Burrage, Katie Boulter and Heather Watson all reached the last four of the women's event, Murray defeated Dominic Stricker 7-6 (2) 7-5 for his eighth-successive victory.</p>

<p>The 36-year-old is bidding to win a second-successive title on the second-tier Challenger Tour having triumphed in Surbiton last week and is yet to drop a set in Nottingham.</p>

<p>He said of the home success in his on-court interview: "Obviously this week's been great. A couple of weeks ago we were hearing British tennis wasn't doing well. Things change a lot on a week-to-week basis.</p>

<p>"You just want all of the players to reach their potential, make sure everyone's working hard.</p>

<p>"Not everyone is going to win Wimbledon and grand slams but you just want to make sure everyone is making the most of this amazing opportunity to play tennis for a living.</p>

<p>"This week has obviously been brilliant, the women have done extremely well and hopefully that continues through the year. It should be a fun weekend for the British tennis fans."</p>

<p>He did not have things all his own way against 20-year-old Swiss Stricker, with neither man able to create a break point in the opening set.</p>

<p>Murray played a fine tie-break to move in front, clenching his fist as he sat down in his chair, but it was Stricker who made the first move in the second set.</p>

<p>The eighth seed took his third chance to break for 3-1 only for Murray to respond straight away and Stricker then took a medical time-out for treatment to his back.</p>

<p>With the clock ticking past 8pm, Murray pushed for another break and finally got it, a Stricker backhand dropping wide to give his opponent the chance to serve for the match - and the Scot made no mistake.</p>

<p>Murray, who next faces Portugal's Nuno Borges, feels he is heading firmly in the right direction, saying: "It was a really, really tight match today against one of the best young players in the world.</p>

<p>"He has a really good game, huge shots from the back of the court but also really nice touch up at the net.</p>

<p>"I'm really glad to get through that one because it was really close. That's the best I've played across the last two weeks in terms of how I hit the ball and everything. It was really positive."</p>

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