ATP Tour - Murray sets up Federer semi-final

Eurosport - Fri, 09 Jan 14:51:00 2009

Andy Murray set up a semi-final meeting with Roger Federer at the ATP Doha tournament in Qatar with a straightforward 6-4 6-2 victory against Sergii Stakhovsky.

TENNIS 2009 ATP Doha Andy Murray - 0

British number one Murray edged an entertaining first set against the Ukrainian, before powering home in the second to book his seventh meeting with Federer as he continues his defence of the Doha title.

Victory was ultimately comfortable for Murray, but Stakhovsky belied his world ranking of 92 in the opening set with an array of superb winners and deft drop shots.

in the seventh game of the opening set, Murray was warned by the umpire for illegal coaching, a ruling that clearly angered the defending champion but appeared to drive him towards his best period in the match.

Murray raced into a 5-0 lead in the second set, and despite a late rally from Stakhovsky barely raced into the last four with an aggressive display.

World number two Federer reached the semi-finals courtesy of a 6-2 7-6 victory against eighth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

In the other half of the draw, Rafael Nadal's Australian Open preparation hit a stumbling block when he was beaten 6-4 6-4 by Frenchman Gael Monfils.

The world number one had been hoping to get some much needed match practice before the season's opening Grand Slam, which starts on January 19, after being injured during the final stages of the 2008 season.

But his stay in Doha lasted only three matches after he was outclassed by Monfils.

The pair swapped breaks in the opening set before Nadal was broken again in the 10th game to hand Monfils the opening set.

The crucial moment of the second set again came in the 10th game when Monfils broke the Spaniard to clinch the match.

Earlier in the day, Andy Roddick enjoyed a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory against Victor Hanescu of Romania to book his place in the semi-finals.

Will Tidey / Reuters

Comment 16 - 35 of 55

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  1. I wish all good luck for the best ROGER FEDERER

    From ola azmy, on Fri 9 Jan 7:26AM

  2. andy murray is a great player,21 and some amazing­ acclaim,best brittish tennis player ever,murray to win­ wimbledon 2011

    From kyle, on Fri 9 Jan 1:23AM

  3. How about mine!?

    From Nicholas, on Fri 9 Jan 12:48AM

  4. posts 1 and 11 seem to be the only sensible ones on­ here get over it folks it's not often we get to­ celebrate a Brit achievement in tennis. Went to see­ Murry - Nadal Final in Abu Dhabi it was a superb match­ top three very close now.

    From Graham, on Fri 9 Jan 12:33AM

  5. Problem is far to many people keep posting childish and­ imbersile type comments!

    From Nicholas, on Fri 9 Jan 12:23AM

  6. I think the truth lies in the fact that Nadal Murray­ Federer and Djokovic are all multi talanted players all­ with slightly different styles and all capable of­ beating the others on any given day

    From Nicholas, on Fri 9 Jan 12:20AM

  7. In the new ranking system, were a player has to regain ­ title won last yr to gain maximum points? Does that­ start here and would it put Andy in a good position ?

    From , on Thu 8 Jan 11:30PM

  8. From some of the comments I read on here. I always­ thought only the Americans were mindless patriotic­ nationalists who dont give a @#$% about other nations.­ Apparently some British people are like that too...­ kinda sad.

    From HT, on Thu 8 Jan 11:24PM

  9. MURRAY IS A LEDEND! ROCK ON ANDY, GET INTAE THAT­ FEDDERER GUY! HAHA

    From leona, on Thu 8 Jan 11:07PM

  10. whats gonna be the excuses when the hot scot takes down­ federrer AGAIN

    From bluenose, perth, on Thu 8 Jan 10:56PM

  11. why people discuss lot about murray when he play­ against federer?.federer is superstar in tennis.just­ because of few matches lost against murray it does not­ mean that superstar gone.federer the best.lot of­ diffrence between federer and murray.east or west­ federer is the best.

    From srinivas r, on Thu 8 Jan 10:45PM

  12. You are soo right, andy is gonna blow everyone away in­ the OA with his coaching during the match, what a­ cheater. U see Federer or Nadal coaching? no!!
    And good­ luck Federer, ur gonna win!!

    From aus11123, on Thu 8 Jan 10:43PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    federer is nothing,nadal simply eats him for­ breakfast!!

    From damepetrusevski, on Thu 8 Jan 10:42PM

  14. watch out murray this time federer will not leave­ u.king of tennis is back in goodform.good luck­ federer.u r the best the bes,t the best.

    From anu, on Thu 8 Jan 10:37PM

  15. cant believe how many people think fed's gonna win­ aussie!! murray is gonna blow everyone away in­ australia!

    From Angus, on Thu 8 Jan 10:10PM

  16. welldone murray this year will be your year. nadal­ better get fit before the aussie open if he does not­ want to be dissapointed

    From Melanie, on Thu 8 Jan 9:29PM

  17. stevenozouf: this is a sports site, not british or­ swiss or whatever. Sport is international! (I hope)

    From ya, on Thu 8 Jan 9:22PM

  18. comment 7 is impossible to understand.

    From webbski, on Thu 8 Jan 9:18PM

  19. People are always complaining. Go to Sky Sports for a­ more complete coverage. Or try the atp webiste. Federer­ rules okay!!!!

    From caroline c, on Thu 8 Jan 9:15PM

  20. look out murray. FEDERER IS GONNA GET HIS REVENGE

    From Annamarie G, on Thu 8 Jan 9:07PM
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