Tennis News : Murray powers into Shanghai semis

Murray has won 23 of his past 24 matches and is chasing a 21st career title

British number one Andy Murray remains on course for a third title in a row after beating Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden 6-3 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

The defending champion, who has already secured titles in Japan and Thailand this month, won seven games in a row from the middle of the first set.

Ebden tried to fight back but Murray sealed his place in the semi-finals.

The second seed will now face Japan's Kei Nishikori on Saturday.

BBC tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend

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"That was one of the most enjoyable matches of the week on a surprisingly cool Shanghai night. Ebden started strongly and made life tricky for Murray. It's nice to see a fresh face step onto a centre court and look immediately at home. But I was impressed by the way Murray knuckled down midway through that first set and didn't let the disappointment of losing the fifth game from 0-40 get him down. There was a zip about his movement and his serving and he's looking good for a hat-trick of titles here in Asia."

Third seed David Ferrer will take on his Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez in the other semi-final.

Murray failed to take four break points in the fifth game before finally breaking the Australian's serve in the seventh game of the first set.

The world number four then raced through the next six games, winning the first set in the process, before Ebden managed to end the Scot's impressive run.

Ebden, 23, stuck at it but could not match the power and variety of Murray's serve and groundstrokes.

Victory - Murray's 52nd of the year - was completed after one hour and 24 minutes on court.

Afterwards, the 24-year-old Scot admitted that the changeable weather conditions on court had hindered him.

"Sometimes it happens in matches where you don't necessarily feel that comfortable," he said.

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I think if I was a little bit looser I could have got a few more breaks

Andy Murray

"It's the first time I've played outdoors [in Shanghai] and it's changed the conditions a lot - I felt a little tentative.

"I served very well for the most part, I didn't give him many opportunities on my serve and created a lot of chances on his so I can't be too disappointed.

"I think if I was a little bit looser I could have got a few more breaks."

Ferrer moved into the semi-finals with a hard-fought 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-2) win over American Andy Roddick while Lopez overcame Germany's Florian Mayer, who knocked out top seed Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4 on Thursday.

Nishikori, ranked 47 in the world, advanced with a 6-4 6-3 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov, the 12th seed from Ukraine.

Murray's former coach Brad Gilbert trains Nishikori, 21, who is having his best season on tour, reaching one final and four semi-finals.

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Kei Nishikori is set to become the highest-ranked Japanese player in ATP Tour history. Currently at 47th, he is projected to rise to 32 with his quarter-final win in Shanghai - beating Shuzo Matsuoka's previous best ranking of 46

He said Gilbert's instruction had been key to improving his game and believes the American's inside knowledge could help him against Murray..

"He teaches me how the top players play, and how I need to play, so it is helping me a lot," saud Nishikori.

"Andy has won two tournaments in a row, and beaten Nadal (in Japan). It's going to be tough. I've never played him but I'm going to ask my coach. He knows a lot of things."

But Murray played down Gilbert's influence, saying: "Whatever Brad says, I learnt quite a lot from him, and hopefully I'll be able to use some of the things I learnt against Kei."

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