Murray Grinds Past Mahut and Into Semis

Andy Murray has won through to the semi-finals of the Open 13 in Marseille by beating Nicolas Mahut 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Murray, currently ranked no11 in the world after his first-round exit at the Australian Open, took an hour and 15 minutes to edge out Mahut. He will now meet another Frenchman as he awaits the winner of the clash between Gilles Simon and Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Both Mahut and Murray displayed strong service games, with Murray delivering 14 aces, four more than his 26-year-old opponent. The match went with serve in the first set. Mahut had to hold his own serve to stay in the game at 5-4. At 6-5 Murray completed the break to win the set 7-5. Murray then held serve to win the first game of the second set before Mahut leveled. Mahut pushed his opponent to deuce in the third game but Murray held on and the match continued in the same manner with the pair trading quickfire games. Murray won the ninth game to love and Mahut found himself serving to stay in the match. Murray moved to 40-15 to claim two match points but the home favourite reeled off three points for game point before the Briton hauled him back to deuce.

However, Mahut went back ahead and leveled the game at 5-5 but Murray held serve to go 6-5 up. A close-fought 12th game saw Mahut draw level at 6-6 and force a tie-break. Mahut won the first two points before Murray hit back for 4-2. Mahut, though, leveled to 4-4 with his 10th ace of the game but Murray won the next two points to move to match point at 6-4, which he clinched on his own serve to move into the last four.