Andy Murray trumps David Ferrer to reach semi-finals in London
Home favourite Andy Murray reached the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday 25 November, overcoming Spain's David Ferrer in straight sets to win 6–2 6–2.
Murray, who only needed only one set victory to progress to the last four, followed up his defeat to Roger Federer in the last round by beating the Spaniard despite conceding a break in either set.
"I knew before I needed to win one set and David needed to win comfortably so it's quite a strange position to be in," the Scot said after the game, which lasted 69 minutes. "David started well, but I returned well to get back into it. It
feels good."
Ferrer, who lost both of his previous matches at the ATP Finals against Federer and Robin Soderling, opened strongly by holding on service before breaking when Murray's backhand failed to clear the net.
Murray showed no intention of letting the set slip after conceding on service, firing down the line to convert a break point in game three.
The Scot struggled in the fourth, but managed to level 30-30 before breaking his opponent again with some impressive groundstrokes.
Having held to 4–2, Ferrer defended two break points from the Scot, but the world number seven could do nothing about Murray's crosscourt winner that earned him a three-game lead.
Murray, clear of any worries incurred by his mediocre display against Federer, then directed Ferrer all around the court before wrapping up the first set to secure his spot in the semi-finals after claiming six straight games against his
opponent.
The world number five hit a spectator-friendly lob to break in the first game of the second set, but his good work was undone by Ferrer in the second as the Spaniard broke back.
But Murray pressured Ferrer on his serve, forcing him to a deuce in the third game before breaking the Spaniard a second time to earn a 4–2 lead after defending a break point to hold his serve.
The Scot then broke his opponent again in the seventh set, converting the second of three break points before holding to see out the set before the games reached double figures.
"It feels great to be in the semis in London," Murray commented afterwards. "They've put on an unbelievable tournament here and it's been almost packed every match."
The Scot now faces the winner of Group A on Saturday 27 November.
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