Murray first Brit to reach LA semis

LOS ANGELES: World number four and top-seed Andy Murray, who is looking for his first ATP title of the year, beat Alejandro Falla 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the $600,000 Farmers Classic to advance to the semi-finals where he will face Spanish fourth-seed Feliciano Lopez who beat struggling American James Blake 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

Murray hammered five aces and won 76 per cent of his first-serve points compared to Falla’s one ace and just 66 per cent serving at the Los Angeles Tennis Centre on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles.

This was the second match for the 23-year-old Murray since sacking his coach Miles Maclagan just four weeks before the start of the US Open. Murray says he likes the way his match preparation is at the moment and is in no rush to replace Maclagan.

The Scot plans to continue to work a few months a year with former Spanish star Alex Corretja pending the appointment of a new coach.

“I don’t have coaches now. Alex is doing 10-12 weeks a year with me. Between then I want to work with someone else,” he said.

Murray, who took a late wild card to get into the draw, is making his Los Angeles debut. He is the first from Britain to reach the semis in the history of the tournament. He has enjoyed success in California in the past, winning twice in San Jose.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2010.