Andy Murray reaches semi-finals at Montreal Masters

Sunday 16 August 2015 11:02, UK

Andy Murray proved far too good for defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he reached the semi-finals of the Montreal Masters.

The Scot beat 10th-seeded Frenchman 6-4 6-4 to avenge last year's quarter-final loss.

The second-seed broke the Tsonga serve once in each set to emerge victorious in a rain-delayed match which finished at around 1.30am local time.

Victory for Murray means that he has now qualified for the season-ending World Tour finals at the O2 in London and is one win away from moving up to second in the world rankings.

Murray thanked the fans for sticking around to see the match despite the frustrations of the weather disruptions.

"A lot of the crowd stayed and that really helped me get motivated," the Scot said on the official ATP World Tour website. "They created a good atmosphere out there and I appreciate everyone staying.

"I passed well. I came up with some good passing shots and that was the difference today."

The first four games went with serve, before Murray gained the vital opening break in game five courtesy of a fierce forehand up the line.

Murray was serving well and volleying sweetly as he looked to avenge last year's quarter-final defeat to Tsonga, and closed out the first set without too much trouble.

The British No 1 offered the world No 24 a glimmer of hope in game four of the second set with two break points. But the Frenchman passed up the first and could then do nothing as Murray's first ace of the match took the game to deuce, from where the two-time major winner held.

At 3-3 in the second set there was all to play for, and it was Murray who seized the initiative with a wonderful lob to break the Tsonga serve for a second time.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Tsonga saved the first match point with a fine winner but was unable to do anything about the second as Murray marched on.

Tsonga struck more winners with 31 to Murray's 24, but had double the amount of unforced errors at 28-14.

Murray will meet fourth-ranked Kei Nishikori in the last four after he shocked Rafa Nadal with a comfortable straight sets win.

Nishikori of Japan beat seventh-seeded Nadal for the first time in eight attempts with a 6-2 6-4 success.

"It took a long time to beat Rafa," said the tournament winner last week in Washington. "I don't usually like to play against him, but the last couple of matches I had chances in Australia and in Madrid last year so I knew I was close."