Murray into World Tour Finals with Shanghai success

14 October,2010 03:42 PM IST |   |  Agencies

Andy Murray became the fourth man to qualify for next month's season-ending championships as he defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters Thursday.


Andy Murray became the fourth man to qualify for next month's season-ending championships as he defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters Thursday.

Fellow qualifier Novak Djokovic continued his red-hot form in China, with the two-time Beijing champion hammering Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-1 to leave France winless from two matches on another rainy day.

Murray joined Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic in making up half of the field for the elite eight-man ATP season wrapup from November 21 in London.

"It's a great achievement," the Scot said of his entry into the year-end field. "I'm obviously very happy to have done it with a few tournaments left. Today was a good match. I'm happy with how I played."

Djokovic beat Gasquet for the third time in four meetings, taking less than an hour for a 51st victory this season.

Murray advanced in 80 minutes over number 59 Chardy, setting up three match points with his ninth ace of a match played under the closed roof at the Qi Zhong centre as more rain plagued the outdoor event.

Murray saved the five break points he faced from the Frenchman whom he has now defeated in all three of their meetings.

The fourth-seeded Scot produced 21 winners and 14 unforced errors as he worked to lift his game after last week's quarter-final disappointment in Beijing.

Robin Soderling, Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and injured Andy Roddick are the next four in the queue for London qualification.

But results over this week and the next four through to the end of the regular ATP season will decide the final line-up for the World Tour Finals.

On court in Shanghai, Nadal plays his third-round match with the roof closed against Roland Garros semi-finalist Jurgen Melzer, while Federer will hope to follow up his victory on Wednesday which included another winning between-the-legs spectacular as he faces Andreas Seppi standing 6-0 in the series.

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Andy Murray Shaghai success