Publication Date:
Sat, 2010-05-15 06:47
In an attritional match that finished just before 0100 local time (2300 GMT), third seed Murray put in a much improved performance on his less favored clay surface.
But Ferrer, the ninth seed, warmed the home fans in chilly conditions with a typically gritty display and sealed victory on his first match point when Murray netted a backhand.
Ferrer beat world number four Murray in the last 16 at last month's Rome Masters and has the best record on the red dust on the ATP Tour this year.
He lost to claycourt maestro Rafa Nadal in the final in Rome and the last four at the Monte Carlo Masters and if he beats Federer on Saturday will play Nadal again or Nicolas Almagro in Sunday's final.
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