Tennis: Murray through to join Federer in last four

After playing his part in the drama that saw Murray eliminated by one game last year, Federer did his bit to help the British No 1 this time with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 victory over Robin Soderling earlier in the day. That meant Murray began last night's clash knowing he only needed to win a set to be sure of his place in the last four.

That looked anything but certain as he began the match nervously and allowed Ferrer to take a 2-0 lead. But, once the world No 5 had relaxed, he swiftly turned things around and raced to an ultimately comfortable victory.

Murray, who also reached the semi-finals in 2008 when the tournament was held in China, said: "I knew before I needed to win one set and David needed to win comfortably so it's quite a strange position to be in.

"David started well but I returned well to get myself back into it. It feels good."

With three wins in a row under his belt, Federer was happy to keep things simple after his three-set defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro at the same stage last year saw the group decided on games percentage, with Murray missing out on qualification by one game.

The four-time Tour Finals winner said: "I was able to come out today and play a good, tough, solid match against a player who I thought was in good shape.

"I purposely didn't want to know the calculations before today's match, whereas I was in the loop very clearly what I needed to do last year, which I think played on my mind a little bit.

"So I think, thanks to what happened last year, I was better prepared this year. I just wanted to come out and try to play as good a match as I could. Losing is never a solution to trying to win a tournament."

It was confirmed after the match Soderling, who reached the semi-finals on his debut last year, was definitely out of contention for a last-four spot because of his games percentage.

The Swede picked out the backhand he left that won Federer the first set and the world No 2's successful challenge in the opening game of the second as the key points in the match.

He said: "I think against a player like Roger, you need to have a little bit of luck to win. And I definitely didn't have the luck on my side.

"I'm not saying I would have won anyway. But those two points were really big."

For Soderling it brings to an end a season in which he has cemented his place at the top of the game and proved his French Open breakthrough last year was just the start.