TENNIS ATP VALENCIA – Andy Murray fought back from a set down to edge Kevin Anderson with 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 in the quarter finals of the ATP 500 in Valencia and set up a crucial semifinal match for qualifying for the ATP Final in London. Ferrer swept aside Thomas Bellucci with 6-1 6-2. Murray is eighth in the ATP Race to London, two places ahead of Ferrer. Diego Sampaolo
Andy Murray has won the 16th win in the last 18 matches confirming his recent good form after the US Open. In his attempt to qualify for the ATP Finals Murray lifted the first two ATP titles of the year in Shenzhen and Vienna. Murray needed to reach at least the semifinals in Valencia to add points to his ranking and fulfilled his goal
Murray took a 2-0 lead with a forehand winner but he went down a break down after two double faults in consecutive games. Murray drew level to 4-4 but he faced three set points in the tie-break after another double fault. He probably felt tired after a busy schedule in the last month in his attempt to qualify for London. Anderson converted his set point to take the win in the first-set tie-break after 77 minutes.
Murray wasted a early break lead but he got a decisive break for 5-4 in the ninth game of the second set to draw level and force the match to the decider.
Murray got his fifth break of the match in the first game of the third set. He was solid on serve and did not face any break points in the rest of the third set. Only the final game of the set went to deuce where he closed out on his fourth match point after two hours and 44 minutes. Murray won 86 percent of his first serve points.
“It was tough. There were a lot of long rallies and long games. I started to read a little bit better at the end of the second set. I was creating a lot of chances on his service games. I improved my serve throughout the match. That was really the difference but it was extremely close. I just managed to get through. The match tomorrow will be important but even if I don’t win the tournament this week, I will have another opportunity next week in Paris”, said Murray.
Murray is currently ranked eighth in the ATP Race to London. He added 90 points to his total score closing his gap on seventh placer Tomas Berdych. Murray, winner in Valencia in 2009, could move up to fifth in the standings if he wins in the Spanish city.
Murray’s hopes to qualify for London have improved after the news that Rafa Nadal has officially announced that he will not play at the Master 1000 in Paris Bercy and at the ATP Finals in London to undergo appendix surgery after losing to 17-year-old 2013 US Open Junior champion Borna Coric. Moreover Milos Raonic’s defeat against David Goffin in Basel have also boosted Murray’s chances.
Ferrer eased past Thomas Bellucci 6-1 6-2 in just 67 minutes. Ferrer broke serve four times and saved three break point chances he faced. He won 74 percent of his service points. Ferrer recorded his 600th match win on the ATP Tour
With this win Ferrer has overtaken Raonic for ninth place in the ATP Race to London and could leapfrog Murray if he wins the home tournament
It will be the third match between Ferrer and Murray in the last month. Ferrer beat Murray in the third round in Shanghai but the Scotsman took a re-match last Sunday in the Vienna final.
“It’s going to be a tough match against Murray. Tomorrow is a very important match for both players. I will try to do my best because whoever wins tomorrow will have a lot of options to go to London”, said Ferrer
Frenchman Jeremy Chardy eased past Pablo Carreno Busta with 6-1 6-2 to reach his first semifinal since Brisbane last January. Chardy broke serve four time and won 92 percent of his first serve points. Chardy will face Spaniard Tommy Robredo who beat Pablo Andujar 7-6(4) 6-4.
