Murray defeats Federer;
Nadal waits in finalINDIAN WELLS, California (AP): Andy Murray beat Roger Federer for the fourth straight time 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 to advance to the BNP Paribas Open final on Saturday.
No. 4 Murray, off to a career-best 20-1 start this year, has won six of eight matches overall against No. 2 Federer. The 21-year-old Scot will face No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who edged No. 7 Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-6 (4) in their semifinal.
Nadal, constantly powering his forehand into the corner to Roddick's backhand, ended several long rallies by drawing in the American and passing him.
Nadal, the 2007 Indian Wells champion, improved to 5-2 against Roddick.
Federer, whose four-year stint at No. 1 ended last year, made some outstanding shots against Murray, and some awful ones. Inconsistency remains his problem as he tries to fight his way back to the top.
The Swiss star made a whopping 32 unforced errors, including several by clanging routine shots off the frame of his racket.
Murray was a model of consistency, scrambling back and forth to keep the ball in play and making just 15 unforced errors.
After Federer came back to win the second set, Murray earned a break in the fourth game of the third to take control. Murray had a scary moment in that game when his feet slipped out from under him and he did the splits while trying to stop, turn and get to a shot behind him. He yelled in pain, but got up off the court a few seconds later and obviously wasn't hampered - he won the next three points. Murray, the only player who did not lose a set on his way to the semis, is trying for his third title of the season. He won at Dubai and Rotterdam.
Vera Zvonareva, who defeated Victoria Azarenka in the women's semifinals, joined with Azarenka to win the women's doubles title, beating Gisela Dulko of Argentina and Shahar Peer of Israel 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 tiebreaker.
Zvonareva will face defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the singles final.
Both the men's and women's singles finals are on Sunday.
Source: The Star Online
ASTRO SuperSport Channel 811
STARHUB SuperSports Channel 22
