By Niall Clarke
- Andy Murray defeats Richard Gasquet 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3.
- The Frenchman was a break up in the final set
- Murray will play David Ferrer in the semi finals
Paris, France- Andy Murray is through to the semi finals of the BNP Paribas Masters after a tight three set victory over Richard Gasquet.
Tennis:
The Brit needed over two and half hours and had to come from a break down in the final set to pull through 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3.
“It was a tough match,” said the second seed as reported in BBC SPORT. “The crowd was behind him and it was perfect preparation for the Davis Cup, in an atmosphere like that.”
With the busy schedule of the Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals before the Davis Cup final, Murray was keen to continue his blistering form from the opening two rounds where he only dropped a total of four games, and spent less than two hours combined on court.
In the opening stages it looked like we were in for a repeat. An early break was just what the doctor ordered, but after squandering a chance to go 5-1 up, the wheels feel off the Brit slightly. Gasquet broke back and forced a tiebreak. The breaker would take 16 points to settle, but in the end Murray secured the important mini break to take it 9-7.
With the French crowd behind him, the world number nine hit back in the second set. Gasquet was solid on serve and a single break was enough to take it 6-3.
The momentum carried into the final set. The Frenchman secured an early break and looked set to grab his first victory against Murray for three years, but the Brit hit back and then went ahead with a break for 5-3. The world number two then successfully served out the match to claim his fifth straight win over Gasquet.
Ferrer defeats Isner
The Brit will face David Ferrer in the semi finals after the Spaniard overcame John Isner in the second match of the day.
Despite facing early break points, the eighth seed managed to make a breakthrough in the third game of the match. Ferrer was excellent on return and would break again to take the first set 6-3.
Isner was put under considerable pressure early in the second but managed to hold on, however Ferrer was not to be denied a break, and at 4-3 he made the breakthrough. The Spaniard earned two match points on serve but could not convert as the American fought back to take the set to a tiebreak. From there he would go on to take it 8-6 and take the match to a deciding set.
Ferrer stepped up his game in the third and ran away with the match. The 2012 champion broke the big serve of Isner twice en route to sealing a semi final spot against Murray.
The Brit has won 10 of the 16 matches they have played together, including their only meeting this year which funnily enough also happened in Paris. Murray defeated Ferrer in four sets in the French Open quarter finals.
Murray vs Ferrer will take place on Court Central on Saturday
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