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 1 - 15 of 55

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

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

  2. yeh!!!

    From Harry, on Thu 8 Jan 8:59PM

  3. If you can't find the sports news you want on this­ site, go to another site you imbeciles.

    From microdexltd, on Thu 8 Jan 8:56PM

  4. you lot moaning because murray is getting the press on­ here. its the british site you tits. if you wanna read­ about fed and nadal go to their home country­ sites!!
    this is a british site so get a f!!king grip

    From PartyChick116, on Thu 8 Jan 8:49PM

  5. I dont see anyone apart from Federer,Nadal and Murray­ winning the slams his year,they are clearly the best­ three in the world ,and i would say Murray is playing­ the best tennis out of any of them,his form seems to­ have carried over from the end of last season.I pick­ Federer or Murray for the Australian,giving Federer the­ nod,but only just.

    From carlos480bc, on Thu 8 Jan 8:48PM

  6. Do we get any info on Federer match? or do we have to­ find a Swiss news service?

    From shirley, on Thu 8 Jan 8:40PM

  7. are you blind.
    murray is form horse and nadal is­ injured
    get on him for the aussie title

    he is getting­ coverage because he is winning!
    federer and nadal ­ have had loads of coverage or years.....
    deservedly­ so,but give murray a break....he is one of the top 4­ players in the world
    ad maybe the best at this moment­ in time

    From geordieprince1, on Thu 8 Jan 8:34PM

  8. i think murray can win astrailen open this year, even­ has a chance in winning the us open as well
    for the­ french nd wimbledon, nadal and federer should win those­ respectively.

    murray should concentrate on those two­ in particular.

    From Mitun, on Thu 8 Jan 8:32PM

  9. hello Au- to federrer??? no chance itll be battle­ beatwen murray and djokovic if novak manage to do­ enything i wont argue french open and wimbledon whic i­ think federer is still favourite not nadal us open is­ far far away and who knews mabey tsonga or someone else­ do something if any injuris happen
    should be nice­ tennis year with plenti suprises

    From darcj, on Thu 8 Jan 8:30PM

  10. There is only Murray and the rest!

    From Nicholas, on Thu 8 Jan 8:25PM

  11. Federer - Australia, Nadal - French, Federer -­ Wimbledon, Federer - US Open. my predictions for an­ exciting year in Tennis.

    From G, on Thu 8 Jan 8:25PM

  12. miserable eurosport!
    the 13 times grand slam champion­ could hardly deserve 1 sentence on your site.
    shame on­ you

    From Zoltán, on Thu 8 Jan 8:23PM

  13. OK let's try this again.

    I expected Murray to get­ a lot of press coverage, but it seems the other top­ ranked players are barely covered. Fed's progress­ hasn't been given their own articles, and even­ Nadal's shock defeat is only on the bottom of the­ page...

    I get that the Brits are quite struck with­ Murray fever (like LH fever), and it's quite­ understandable, but it'd be nice to see the other­ people's match reports and matchcasts too...

    From HT, on Thu 8 Jan 8:02PM

  14. Invalid Comment #*)$@&#

    From HT, on Thu 8 Jan 7:59PM

  15. I watched all matches today, and was well disappointed­ by Nadal. Federer looks difficult to beat this year.­ Murray good too. Great to see 4 players so close in­ standard. Should be good 2009. My predictions:­ Australia- Federer, French- Nadal, Wimbledon- Nadal, US­ Open- Djokovic.

    From webbski, on Thu 8 Jan 7:51PM
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