Australian Open 2012 Semifinals: Tennis Needs Murray vs. Djokovic to Be Epic

The 2012 Australian Open has seen some big upsets, but nothing has been overly exciting, which is exactly why the semifinal match between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic has to be great. 

In a rematch from last year's final, Murray and Djokovic have to give the fans a breathtaking match. That didn't happen a year ago, as Djokovic cruised past Murray in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. 

Should this semifinal match disappoint like the final from a year ago, tennis will suffer greatly. Sure, there's still the final to come, but tennis needs some extra hype leading up to the final. 

The faithful fans will no doubt attempt to tune in to the final match. However, since it's in Australia, it's slated for around 4 a.m., meaning few people in the United States will see it happen live. 

Tennis is becoming less popular in America, and it definitely didn't help that all the American tennis players had early exits at the 2012 Australian Open. 

In order to attract more viewers and get the sport to gain popularity, the matches need to be more fun to watch. It's rather boring to see Djokovic dominate his opponent in three straight sets, especially when there are great implications for the match. 

People want to see greatness happen, but they also want to watch something compelling. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal gave the fans a solid match, with Nadal winning in four sets, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.

While it's great to have an epic showdown in the finals, having intense battles in earlier rounds will get people to tune in more often. 

It has to start with the next match, as it will help build for the remainder of the 2012 tennis season. Fans pay attention more when Wimbledon and the U.S. Open come around, but if the Australian Open disappoints, it wont be good for the future of tennis.