By Erik Gudris | Saturday, October 25, 2014
Andy Murray once again denied David Ferrer a win for the second week in a row. This time in the semifinals of the Valencia Open.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Andy Murray, at the Valencia Open, continued his late season charge in hopes for qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals in London. This time with a win in the semifinals against David Ferrer, also seeking to make his appearance at the year-end event.
Even with Rafael Nadal announcing on Friday he was ending his season early to have appendix surgery, neither Ferrer or Murray wanted to take any chances on their London hopes. Murray beat Ferrer in the Vienna final just last week and wanted to do the same in Ferrer's backyard at the ATP 500 event.
For Ferrer, a win over Murray who sits just ahead of him in the overall points race would keep him in touch for a spot in the elite eight man year-end event.
Murray enjoyed seizing an early break lead over Ferrer right from the start in the opening set. Even as Ferrer started to find his range during the rallies later on, Murray hung on to his lead.
Fighting off a break point while serving for the set, Murray secured the 6-4 set after Ferrer sent a forehand well wide.
Murray, thanks to some ill-timed errors from his opponent, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set. Yet Ferrer would counter by breaking Murray and staying right with the UK No. 1.
Though a tiebreak looked inevitable, it wouldn't come to pass.
Ferrer, at 5-all, would throw in another errant forehand to create a break point for Murray. Ferrer would hit long again on the next point allowing Murray to serve for the match at 6-5.
Murray fought off three break points in the final game before ripping a big forehand on his second match point. With that, Murray secured the 6-4, 7-5 win sending him into the final.
This result improves Murray's chances for qualifying for London ahead of Ferrer.
Murray will now wait on the winner of the Jeremy Chardy versus Tommy Robredo semifinal to learn who is his opponent in Sunday's final.