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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, March 3, 2017

 
Andy Murray

Andy Murray used a seven-game surge to dispatch Lucas Pouille and roll into his first Dubai final since 2012.

Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

There is a time and place for everything.

Seeing Andy Murray on the opposite side of the net is never really a good time of place for Lucas Pouille The world No. 1 reeled off seven straight games continuing his mastery of Pouille, 7-5, 6-1, to roll into the Dubai final.

More: Kyrgios Stuns Djokovic

Murray will meet Fernando Verdasco in tomorrow’s championship match. Murray has won 12 of 13 meetings with the left-hander; Verdasco's lone victory came at the 2009 Australian Open.

The 35th-ranked Spaniard saved six of nine break points defeating Dutchman Robin Haase, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1.

It was Verdasco’s third straight victory over the 66th-ranked Haase and propelled him into his first hard-court final since the 2011 San Jose tournament.

Returning to action after saving seven match points in an epic, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (18), 6-1 triumph over Philipp Kohlschreiber yesterday, Murray looked intent on delivering an efficient effort today.

In three prior meetings with Pouille, Murray had surrendered just 10 games and reminded the 15th-ranked Frenchman of past problems at the outset.

Playing high-percentage baseline tennis, Murray exploited an erratic Pouille opening on a three game run.

Serving at 3-1, the top seed lost his range fluttering a slice backhand into net as Pouille broke back for 2-3.

Two games later, Murray dumped a double fault to gift the Frenchman a second straight break and a 4-3 lead.

A creative stretching one-handed backhand lob from Murray earned him a second break point in the eighth game. Pouille denied it with a smash and a shout.




An ill-advised drop shot that Murray ran down gave the Scot a third break point. When Pouille dumped his fifth double fault into net, Murray broke back at the 46-minute mark.

Staring down set point in the 12th game, Pouille pounded a forehand down the line raced forward and blocked a forehand volley to save it.

That shot proved to be Pouille’s last stand.

An eye-popping pick-up of a spinning half volley from Murray followed by an overcooked forehand gave the world No. 1 a second set point. Bending low, Murray blasted a backhand pass crosscourt snatching the 67-minute opening set with his 12th winner.




The problem Pouille faces in this match-up is he cannot match the Wimbledon champion’s baseline consistency yet when he tries to attack net, Murray often carves him up giving the Frenchman little safe space to operate.

Breaking in Pouille’s opening service game, Murray again jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

A disconsolate Pouille looked depleted of self-belief when he scattered another error donating the second break of the set. By then, Murray had reeled off six straight games.

The 29-year-old Murray served out the match at love raising his 2017 record to 11-2 and reaching his first Dubai final since 2012 when he beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals before bowing to Roger Federer in the final.


 

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