Murray Star Keeps Rising at ATP Bangkok
Posted on October 1, 2005Brit-Scot Andy Murray's break-out week continued Friday at the ATP stop in Bangkok, with the unseeded teenager defeating US Open semifinalist Robby Ginepri 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to gain his first tour-level semifinal berth.
"Winning against two Top 50 players in a row is a pretty big deal for me, and to get to my first semifinal is also great," said Murray, who will now face Paradorn Srichaphan. "It's going to be a big match for me and I'm looking forward to it. I'm not expected to win, but if I play like I did today I think I've got a very good chance. I would like to get through to the final and play my first ATP final against the best player in the world."
Which would be Roger Federer, who dodged giant-killer Gilles Muller with a 6-4, 6-3 performance.
"It was a dangerous match," said Federer of the player who beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and Andy Roddick at the US Open. "Thank God I got off to a good start and that calmed things down a little bit. I really tried after that, every service game I played, to stay very focused and not give him too much of a chance. I don't remember him having any break points so I was never under pressure too much. Today was just solid and consistent, what was needed. No real flashy play, and that's probably what I've got to do again tomorrow."
Srichaphan advanced into the semifinals when No. 2 seed Lleyton Hewitt withdrew with a groin pull.
"In my practice today I overstretched the inside left of my groin which had been stiff from training and especially after the match over [Justin] Gimelstob last night," Hewitt said.
Also into the semis was No. 6 seed Jarkko Nieminen who ended the run of Taipei's Yeu-Tzuoo Wang with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 win.
Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (1) Federer vs. (6) Nieminen (Federer leads career meetings 6-0) and Murray vs. (7) Srichaphan (first meeting), and in doubles (3) Aspelin/Perry vs (2) Erlich/Ram, and (1) Hanley/Paes vs. Bhupathi/Gimelstob.
"Winning against two Top 50 players in a row is a pretty big deal for me, and to get to my first semifinal is also great," said Murray, who will now face Paradorn Srichaphan. "It's going to be a big match for me and I'm looking forward to it. I'm not expected to win, but if I play like I did today I think I've got a very good chance. I would like to get through to the final and play my first ATP final against the best player in the world."
Which would be Roger Federer, who dodged giant-killer Gilles Muller with a 6-4, 6-3 performance.
"It was a dangerous match," said Federer of the player who beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and Andy Roddick at the US Open. "Thank God I got off to a good start and that calmed things down a little bit. I really tried after that, every service game I played, to stay very focused and not give him too much of a chance. I don't remember him having any break points so I was never under pressure too much. Today was just solid and consistent, what was needed. No real flashy play, and that's probably what I've got to do again tomorrow."
Srichaphan advanced into the semifinals when No. 2 seed Lleyton Hewitt withdrew with a groin pull.
"In my practice today I overstretched the inside left of my groin which had been stiff from training and especially after the match over [Justin] Gimelstob last night," Hewitt said.
Also into the semis was No. 6 seed Jarkko Nieminen who ended the run of Taipei's Yeu-Tzuoo Wang with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 win.
Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (1) Federer vs. (6) Nieminen (Federer leads career meetings 6-0) and Murray vs. (7) Srichaphan (first meeting), and in doubles (3) Aspelin/Perry vs (2) Erlich/Ram, and (1) Hanley/Paes vs. Bhupathi/Gimelstob.