Andy Murray receives walkover in Vienna after David Ferrer pulls out injured
Spaniard suffers leg injury meaning Murray will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga next
Saturday 29 October 2016 18:45, UK
Top seed Andy Murray received a walkover to the final of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna after his opponent David Ferrer pulled out with a leg injury.
The 2014 champion will now take on Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the title match where victory would help him move another step closer to deposing Novak Djokovic as world No 1.
Murray needs to win the title in the Austrian capital on Sunday, as well as next week's Paris Masters, to have any chance of knocking Djokovic off the world top spot.
The British world No 2 beat Ferrer for the title two years ago, and also defeated the Spaniard in the semi-finals on his way to winning to the title at Beijing three weeks ago.
Tournament director Herwig Straka said Ferrer was visiting a private clinic where doctors advised him not to play.
It was only the second time in 1,024 career matches that Ferrer withdrew and the Spaniard said: "The last two matches I had pain. It's too much to play now."
"He must be in quite a lot of pain," Murray said. "I'll use today as a rest day, practice a little bit on the centre court.
"It will be a hard match [against Tsonga], but I'm motivated to finish the season strong. Being in another final after a tough week is good."
The 2011 champion Tsonga looked to be down and out against ATP Tour ace leader Karlovic, but came through to make his first ATP final of the year after two hours and 34 minutes of action, 5-7 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
"It was a special match," Tsonga said. "I was down one set and one break, then he gave me a break and I came back in the match. I just played more consistent and more aggressive."
Check our game-by-game updates from Andy Murray's match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis this Sunday or catch the action, live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 12.45pm.
