Story highlights
Second seed Andy Murray wins through to last four at Shanghai Masters
Defending champion will next play Japan's Kei Nishikori in Chinese event
Third seed David Ferrer takes on fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in other semi
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the semifinals of the Generali Ladies Open
World No. 4 Andy Murray is on course to reach a third successive Asian final after ending the Shanghai Masters hopes of Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden on Friday.
The Briton had few difficulties in winning 6-3 6-2 against a player who will rise from 124th to 80th in the next rankings release.
Defending champion Murray, who won the Thailand and Japan Open titles this month, will next face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the semifinals.
“I created a lot of chances. I had game points in almost every one of his service games during the match. I could have done with being a bit more clinical,” the Scot told the ATP Tour website after his 13th successive win and 23rd from his last 24 matches.
“I feel like I can play better. I served well so far. But I think I can hit the ball a bit better from the back of the court. And, like I said a few days ago, it’s different conditions to the last couple of weeks.”
The 47th-ranked Nishikori reached his first Masters semifinal with a 6-4 6-3 win over Ukrainian 12th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov.
“I feel like home here,” the 21-year-old said. “It means a lot to play semis here. I’m really excited now.”
Third seed David Ferrer went through after beating American No. 10 Andy Roddick in the highlight of the quarterfinal draw, triumphing 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-2).
Roddick beat Ferrer at the U.S. Open last month, but is still battling to qualify for one of the remaining places at the top-eight ATP World Tour finals in November. World No. 5 Ferrer has already sealed a place but Roddick is an outside chance at 16th in the standings.
Ferrer will next face fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who eliminated German 15th seed Florian Mayer 6-2 6-4 to reach the semis in Shanghai for the second time.
Mayer knocked out world No. 2 Rafael Nadal on Thursday.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the semifinals of the Generali Ladies Open in Austria on Friday, a tournament where she was runner-up in 2009.
The Czech top seed beat Slovakia’s No. 8 Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-2 to set up a clash with former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
The Serbian third seed was too strong for Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina – who made it to the main draw as a lucky loser – as she won the late match 6-2 6-4 in just under 90 minutes.
Kvitova’s compatriot Lucie Safarova also went through to the last four, beating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 7-5 6-2.
Safarova will play Slovakian seventh seed Dominika Cibulkova, who came from behind to overcome Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-1.
