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[Grabcopy]

Andy Murray recorded a routine 6-2 6-3 victory over road-runner David Ferrer today to book a place in the final of the Rakuten Japan Open against Rafael Nadal.

Victory tomorrow on the Centre Court in Tokyo would mean a morale-boosting second successive title after the Scot's triumph in the Thailand Open last week. Nadal made the final after dispatching Mardy Fish 7-5 6-1.

Murray broke Ferrer's serve three times in the match, which lasted just one hour 21 minutes.

"I played great from start to finish," said Murray. "It was always going to be a tough match, but I played smart and I was hitting the ball very deep from the back of the court, so it was a very good performance.

"I think he's played some very good tennis the last couple of matches. He's always tough. He won here last year, so he likes the conditions."

Murray has beaten Nadal just four times, although his head to head on hard courts is a respectable 3-4 in the Spaniard's favour. Less auspiciously for Murray fans, Nadal has won their last five encounters. The Scot will need to be aggressive from the off if he is to turn that sequence around.

[Big V]

500 event

[Patsy]

Someone on the daily mail comments section suggested that Andy should wear a  Djokovic mask tomorrow  to scare the hell out of Nadal lol!

[Aileen]

Sorry, another dull review. I just don't follow these 250 tourneys, although a win vs Rafa tomorrow would, I think, be significant.

Tut-tut Nigel ... a 500 it is.   However in terms of excitement it was a pretty boring match - a masterclass from Andy which left Ferrer, usually a gutsy fighter, wondering what he had to do to make any headway here.

Someone on the daily mail comments section suggested that Andy should wear a  Djokovic mask tomorrow  to scare the hell out of Nadal lol!

  Seriously, though, Andy will need to do something special if he is to beat Nadal, especially in a final.  Not only will he need to be playing at his very best, but in addition to coming out all guns blazing from the start, he's going to have to get his tactics right - and he keeps telling us he knows how to beat Nadal, even going as far as explaining it, so perhaps he could do himself, and us, a favour by actually doing it again tomorrow!   My concern is that, if he loses to Nadal then he'll go into a slump (it's happened before) and with a title to defend in Shanghai that could be disastrous.

[jdonald]

I actually think that Andy at present is a different person.
He must come out with a game plan and stick to it.

nadal can be beaten and Andy is the guy.  He has done it before and as you say this is a differnt event 500 series not a grand salam.

We are behing you Andy. The key is the serve and the right approach to net.

[Alis]

Just checked the teletext, and I'm livid. They only mentioned that Andy was in the Final tomorrow against Rafa, (probably because it is Rafa, but no mention at all that Andy and Jamie are in the final on the same day, back to back. Really disappointed in this country, they are only interest in tearing him down.

Nothing new there then!

[marg]

Just watched recording of A league of their own.  Perhaps James Corden will send Andy some winning'vibes' on a text for tomorrow.  Andy looked pretty nervous on the show but he seemed to be enjoying the banter.
Will be watching the lives scores; C'mon Andy;C'mon Andy and Jamie.

[lashurst]

Just checked the teletext, and I'm livid. They only mentioned that Andy was in the Final tomorrow against Rafa, (probably because it is Rafa, but no mention at all that Andy and Jamie are in the final on the same day, back to back. Really disappointed in this country, they are only interest in tearing him down.

Its utterly scandalous that two British players are in a world class tournament and not a mention of it.
Jamie is probably not perceived as being an important tennis player in the eyes of the media, but Andy certainly is and he is doing the double tomorrow.
 


Usless editor at the TV sports programme.