Sony Ericsson Open, Miami
Semi-final latest:
A MURRAY (GB) * v J DEL POTRO (Arg)
5-1
* denotes server
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By Piers Newbery
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Murray 5-1 Del Potro
I fancy Murray in two in this form, it's the first time Del Potro has been this far in a big tournament and he's struggling. Having said that it can be difficult to keep the momentum going and Murray is sometimes guilty of letting players back in when he's well ahead. Del Potro gets off the mark, despite making successive double-faults from 30-0.
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0041:
"Morning Piers, do you think its going to be 2 or 3 sets? I'm going for Murray in 2."
From Barney, London, via text on 81111
0040:
"Del potro does not look up for this. To be fair to him though, Murray is on fire."
From anon via text
0039:
"Murray's ability to get everything seems to have done Del Potro's head already."
From Ted, Lisbon, via text
Murray 5-0 Del Potro
I might get a decent night's sleep after all... Murray hares around his backhand to fire a forehand into the opposite corner and wraps up the game to 30 with a winning lob. And then the texts arrived....
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Murray 4-0 Del Potro
While Del Potro might be suffering a bit physically, Murray is scampering around like a new-born lamb after breezing through his last two matches. He opens the game with a saunter to the net and delicate drop volley and then withstands a barrage of heavy forehands as Del Potro appears to be going 'route one'. The Argentine is then given a time violation and umpire Steve Ullrich bellows over the microphone, "You took too long!" That's all JMDP needs.
Yikes! Murray returns a Del Potro smash, works his way back into the rally and then flicks a ridiculous backhand cross-court winner for 15-40. He misses by an inch on the first break point and then.... Murray recovers another huge smash, then fires a backhand pass that a shocked Del Potro volleys into the net. Incredible stuff from the British number one.
Murray 3-0 Del Potro
Del Potro had a lengthy battle against Nadal yesterday and doesn't look up for too much running around today. Murray drives him bananas with a trademark scramble when apparently out of the point at 15-15, angling a backhand into the gaping court, and he goes on to hold. Del Potro looks exhausted already.
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Murray 2-0 Del Potro
Interesting. The 6ft 6in Del Potro has got plenty of power off both sides when he can plant his feet but Murray poses all sorts of problems with his variety of length, pace and spin.
An awkward backhand into the net sees the Argentine slip to 15-30, and a repeat effort two points later hands Murray a first break point. The Scot teases Del Potro with a succession of backhand slices but eventually the Argentine snaps - and thwacks a forehand down the line. Great shot, but Del Potro falters in another lengthy rally to give up break point and a fabulous backhand down the line seals it for the Scot.
Murray 1-0 Del Potro
The British number one serves first and gets off to a good start, moving well as he moves his man around behind the baseline. Del Potro adopts his trademark returning pose of rolling the left leg of his shorts right up - it looks ridiculous but whatever works for you...
0007: The players are knocking up at the Crandon Park Tennis Center and we can expect a pretty partisan crowd in favour of Del Potro tonight - the local Argentine population of Miami turned out in big numbers for his semi-final win over Nadal.
0002: Good morning - yes, it is that time - and what better way to start the weekend than with some overnight Murraymania? Or maybe you've got a severe case of the Delpotroids, either way this is the place to be. It's the second semi-final in Miami, with the winner to face Novak Djokovic after the Serb earlier beat a flaky Federer.
The pair have met twice before, with Murray leading 2-0 having beaten the Argentine in a stormy encounter in Rome last year - when Del Potro apparently disrespected Andy's mum - before the Briton exacted further revenge in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Del Potro should prove a sterner test this time having risen to number seven in the rankings and beaten world number one Rafael Nadal on Thursday. Still, Murray really has been in tremendous form for some time now and has only lost two matches of note this year.
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