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Andy Murray celebrates his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - Source: Reuters
Top seed Andy Murray gave Spaniard Albert Montanes a 6-4 6-2
mauling in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open on Saturday
as the Briton continued his comeback from a wrist
injury.
The world number four, who before this week had not played on the
ATP tour since September's US Open, dropped a set against
little-known Argentine Leonardo Mayer in Friday's second-round but
looked back on top form against Montanes, ranked 34.
He broke serve four times on the way to winning the first set and
opening a 4-0 lead in the second and wrapped up the match with a
forehand winner.
"My wrist is still giving me some pain but I am feeling better
every day," Murray said at a news conference at the Spanish
hardcourt event. "I played well today and tomorrow I hope to
improve even more."
The Scot will play Fernando Verdasco in Sunday's semi-finals after
the Spanish fourth seed nailed a slew of crashing winners to brush
aside compatriot and seventh seed Tommy Robredo 6-3
6-2.
Verdasco's win and a victory earlier on Saturday for Russian
second seed Nikolay Davydenko means they both remain on track to
secure the remaining two places at the World Tour Finals in London
later this month.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan
Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick have all qualified for the
November 22-29 season-ending event and Davydenko holds seventh spot
and Verdasco eighth.
Davydenko beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4 7-6 and will contest a
place in Monday's final with compatriot Mikhail Youzhny, who
maintained his dominance over Gilles Simon by beating the French
fifth seed 6-4 6-4.
Youzhny saved all 11 break points he faced and it was his fifth
victory in five meetings between the pair.
Verdasco's win ended both Simon's and Robredo's hopes of securing a
place in London.
