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Tennis

Murray books place in semis with hard-fought victory

01/08/2008

Andy Murray battled back from a set down to beat Carlos Moya 2-6 6-3 6-1 to reach the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals.

Britain's number one was broken by the Spaniard in his opening service game on his way to losing the first set, and looked to be heading out after being broken early in the second set.

In scorching temperatures, Murray fought back by winning five games on the spin to take the set. The Dunblane teenager broke three times in the decider to set up a last-four clash with Ivo Karlovic.

It could have been a different story if Moya, 31, had maintained the tempo of the first set. The ex-world number one broke Murray three times, capitalising on the Scot's wayward serves.

Murray, who had not dropped a set in the tournament before today, was broken again at the start of the second.

But the world number nine hit back with a break to love to level at 2-2, which was soon followed by another break to love.

Murray served out the set and looked the favourite to win against a tiring Moya.

The Briton broke his opponent in the opening game of the decider, and repeated the trick in games three and seven to clinch victory.

Murray, 21, admitted he made a sluggish start and was outplayed by veteran Moya.

"He was too good, was serving great and I wasn't moving well, but I managed to turn it around with some big serving halfway through the second set," Murray told Sky Sports.

"I hit one really important forehand down the line for a winner when I was off balance and that almost changed the match a little bit.

"It felt like it was 100 degrees and when you are playing against someone like Carlos who can make you do a lot of running, you get out breath really quickly and you just have to try to make the best of it, try to get some cheap points on your serve and I managed to do that in the end."