Red-hot Murray seals place in another final
Andy Murray could win his second tournament in a week after his win in Madrid last Sunday
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Saturday, 25, Oct 2008 06:08
Andy Murray has booked his place in the St Petersburg Open final after crushing Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-0 6-3.
The defending champion remains on course for his fifth title of the year after clinching victory in just 74 minutes.
Britain's number one will play Kazakhstan qualifier Andrey Golubev in tomorrow's final.
And he will start as red-hot favourite after an emphatic display in his semi-final against world number 16 Verdasco.
The Scot looked on course to record his fourth straight win after breaking him three times to clinch the opening set in 25 minutes.
Murray broke early in the second set but Verdasco showed some resistance to break back and level at 2-2.
The 21-year-old old earned a crucial break in game eight on his way to sealing his 53rd win of the season.
Murray said he is full of respect for his opponent in the final.
"I played Golubev several times when we were younger. He's a strong opponent and I expect serious opposition," the US Open runner-up said.
Golubev, ranked 150th in the world, saw off Romania's Victor Hanescu in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 in his semi.
The 21-year-old said he was bursting with confidence in his match with Hanescu.
"I felt like I could successfully play with my eyes closed," Golubev said.
"I really wanted to make my first ATP final. But I was keeping my desire inside me, under control in order not to distract my concentration and it worked perfectly."