Murray battles through

Murray: in semi-finals.

Also see

• Results
• ATP Schedule
• Tennis on Sky
• Messageboards
• £5 Free Bet

Top seed Andy Murray beat Alejandro Falla 7-6 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.

Murray's first-serve percentage was just 42% for the match and down at 38% for the second set, but his opponent struggled as much as he did.

And after battling through a tough opening set, the second, despite his service struggles, was far simpler as Murray sealed a last-four clash with Feliciano Lopez.

The first set went with serve until the British number one made the most of the first break-point opportunity of the match to go 3-2 up, but he could not consolidate as Falla levelled immediately at 3-3.

Murray created two break points in game seven but could not convert, then Falla did likewise before Murray battled back to hold for 4-4.

Murray led 40-15 as he served to stay in the set in game 10, but Falla won three points in a row to create a break point before the Scot eventually held.

Falla again knocked on the door in game 12, but Murray took the set into a tie-break.

The Scot was cruising as he won the first three points, but Falla fought back to 3-3.

Authority

Finally Murray stamped his authority on the match, though, winning four points in a row to take the set.

The pair exchanged breaks at the start of the second set, but from there on in it was all Murray.

He won five games in a row to end Falla's resistance as the Colombian failed to take advantage of Murray's below-par delivery.

Spanish fourth seed Feliciano Lopez beat struggling American James Blake 3-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-4.

Second seed Sam Querrey came through a testing quarter-final against Rainer Schuettler with a 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7/4) win, despite the veteran German twice serving for the match.

Waiting for Querrey in the semis is sixth-seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

The had a relatively easy time against Marcos Baghdatis, coming through 6-3 7-5 against the third seed.