Murray's Shanghai Dream Ends

Andy Murray's hopes of reaching the Masters Cup in Shanghai were ended as Richard Gasquet edged their quarter-final in the Paris Masters tonight.

The British number one had seemed on course for the last four after recovering from the loss of the first set to take the second to love in some style. But a leg-weary Gasquet recovered his composure and snatched a crucial break in the fifth game of the decider to progress 6-3, 0-6, 6-4.

Gasquet will now go on to play David Nalbandian, conqueror of Roger Federer, with his hopes of making the prestigious eight-man event in China still alive.

There was little between the players in a serve-dominated first set with Murray paying the price for one sloppy game in the eighth. After seven games in which neither player earned a break point, Gasquet grabbed the initiative by playing patiently and forcing 15th seed Murray into errors.

Gasquet was little troubled as he closed out the set, the first Murray had dropped in the tournament, but the Scot powered back in style to take the second. He dramatically moved up a gear and hit more convincingly, particularly with his backhand, to sweep through the set to love. Gasquet's confidence appeared to drain from him and his movement slowed as Murray cranked up the pressure and the Scot leveled the match by seizing on his third set point off the Frenchman's serve.

The third set proved much more competitive with Gasquet, perhaps responding to a few boos in his home crowd, rallying to force two break points on the opening Murray serve. He failed to convert either but dug deeper to break through in the fifth game and force himself ahead. Murray battled hard but Gasquet just did enough to hold on to win on his second match point.