TENNIS in DEPTH.

“It’s probably the longest three-set match I’ve ever played. And I’m still not definitely in the semi-finals so it would kill me if I didn’t get through.”

The British No 1 went into the match knowing a straight-sets win would secure his progress regardless of the result of Thursday night’s match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro.

But, despite being under pressure on his serve for most of the match, Verdasco dug in to push Murray to the limit and a Federer win tonight will ensure the world No 4 makes it through to the last four on Saturday.

 A Federer victory will definitely send Murray through and the ATP confirmed the Scot will also progress if Del Potro wins in straight sets, with the world No 1 then missing out. If Del Potro wins in three sets, the trio will be split on games.

Murray’s serve had let him down in his defeat by the world No 1 on Tuesday and it was a similar story in the early stages on Thursday, the Scot struggling to land his first serve consistently and mixing aces with double faults.

He was the better player off the ground, though, and, although Verdasco was serving impressively, the chances still came against the Spaniard’s delivery.

The seventh seed had to save three break points in an eight-minute opening game and at 3-3 Verdasco snuffed out another opportunity with a second-serve ace.

With the only certainty being Verdasco’s elimination, the Spaniard having lost all three of his matches of his debut at the end-of-season tournament, Murray said: “I thought it was an unbelievable match.

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• Verdasco & Davydenko looking for points in Valencia.
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• murray will need to lift his game a notch.

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