• Farmers Classic

Murray edges ebb-and-flow match to reach final

ESPN staff
August 1, 2010
Andy Murray's superior all-round game was too much for Feliciano Lopez © Getty Images
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Andy Murray beat Feliciano Lopez to reach the final of the Farmers Classic, after a match that encapsulated the British No. 1's season.

Sublime in the first set, Murray then completely lost his focus in the second, before recovering at the vital moment to secure a 6-0 1-6 6-4 victory. He will now play Sam Querrey in Sunday's final.

Lopez could have made life much more difficult for Murray in Los Angeles, but his trademark booming serve deserted him, serving less than 50 percent of first serves in throughout the contest. The Scot took full advantage in the first set, rattling off six straight games for a whitewash.

Immediately the pattern looked set to change in the second though, with Murray conceding two break points, Lopez's first of the match, before holding on for his seventh consecutive game. Lopez drew confidence from the opening, leaping all over Murray's serve for the remainder of the set to chalk up six back-to-back games of his own to level the contest.

Entering the decider, the match was there for the taking, and in a battle of two players with fragile mentalities, it was Murray who claimed the crucial early break. From there he poured all his concentration into holding serve, and defended his lead successfully to reach the final.

Sam Querrey awaits after he came through an equally tough battle with Janko Tipsarevic. Querrey, whom Murray defeated at Wimbledon, lost the first set before coming through 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-4.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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