Saturday 25 October 2014 08:57, UK
Andy Murray made it through to the semi-finals of the Valencia Open with a hard-earned 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-4 comeback win against Kevin Anderson on Friday.
Murray now faces a crucial last-four showdown against top seed and home favourite David Ferrer - a three-time champion in Valencia - after the Spaniard overcame Thomaz Bellucci.
Ferrer made light work of the Brazilian, securing a comfortable 6-1 6-2 success on the back of Murray's lengthy victory.
The Scot has now won 16 of his last 18 matches to put himself on course for a seventh consecutive appearance at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals which features the world's top eight.
Murray, who beat the big-serving Anderson in straight-sets in the fourth round at Wimbledon this summer, failed to find any rhythm on serve in a see-saw opening set, but the 6ft 8ins South African was also looking vulnerable on the indoor hardcourt at L'Agora.
The players traded two breaks of serve apiece before heading into the tiebreaker, and a double-fault at a crucial time from Murray handed Anderson an opportunity to seal the set, which he duly took 7-3.
The 2009 champion failed to consolidate an early break of serve in the second against the seventh seed who won his last ATP Tour title over two years ago at Delray Beach.
But after over an hour of toil Murray stepped things up at the business end of the set to break in game nine before going on to serve it out and take the match into a decider.
With coach Amelie Mauresmo keeping a close eye on proceedings, the Brit carried on from where he left off with an immediate break and although Anderson stayed in contention and even saved three match points before Murray finally won it with his fourth opportunity in two hours and 43 minutes.
With Murray occupying eighth position in the Race To London a place at the O2 in London could be at stake on Saturday with just the Paris Masters to come next week.
In the other half of the draw, Jeremy Chardy will meet Tommy Robredo in the semi-finals after they recorded contrasting victories over Spanish opponents on Friday.
Frenchman Chardy thrashed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1 6-2 to reach the last four, but Robredo was pushed hard by compatriot Pablo Andujar, eventually coming through 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 after two highly-competitive sets.
