Andy Murray boosts World Tour Finals bid with another win in China

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/26/andy-murray-shenzhen-open-lukas-lacko

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Andy Murray boosted his bid to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals by reaching the last four of the Shenzhen Open in China on Friday.

Murray edged past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 6-3, 7-5 in 79 minutes to set up a semi-final clash with Argentina’s Juan Mónaco.

The Scot is chasing points as well as his 29th career title in Shenzhen as he looks to book a place at the lucrative showpiece in London. The 27-year-old started the week in 11th place with only the top eight players guaranteed to qualify.

Murray seized his solitary break point chance in Lacko’s opening service game to win the first set, then crucially broke Lacko in the 11th game of the second before serving out for victory.

Monaco, the world No97, pulled off an upset by beating Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-4 to set up his last-four match with Murray.