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Competing at the Surbiton Challenger 19 years after debuting there in 2004, Andy Murray is through to his fifth Challenger final in front of the home crowd. Andy faced Jordan Thompson in the semi-final and scored a 7-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and six minutes.
Two-time Wimbledon champion squandered an early lead in the opener before claiming a crucial couple of points at 5-5 in the tie break. Murray grabbed three breaks in the second set to control the pace and set the title clash versus the Austrian Jurij Rodionov.
Andy fired eight aces and faced two break points. He failed to defend any and erased that deficit on the return. The Briton turned 40% of the return points into four breaks from eight chances, enough to propel him over the top.
Murray grabbed the encounter's first game with an ace after deuce and earned a break chance in game two after Thompson's double fault.
Andy Murray will compete for the Surbiton Challenger title.
Andy seized it after the rival's backhand mistake and clinched an early advantage.
The home star landed a backhand crosscourt winner in game three to confirm it and forge a 3-0 lead. Jordan held at love in game four and created three break chances in the next one with a smash winner at the net. Andy sprayed a backhand error to experience a break at love and bring the rival back to the positive side.
Both players served well in the next four games, and Thompson grabbed the tenth game after deuce for 5-5. Murray took the 11th game after deuces thanks to a service winner, and Thompson introduced a tie break with a hold at love a few minutes later.
The Aussie returned from 4-1 down and locked the result at 5-5 with a volley winner at the net. Jordan sprayed a forehand error in the 11th point, and Andy grabbed the first set point with a booming serve for 7-6 and a boost.
Thompson missed game points at the start of the second set and got broken following a short rain delay. Andy served well in games two and four to open a 3-1 advantage. He grabbed another break to move 4-1 ahead and held at love for 5-1.
Murray served for the victory at 5-2 and hit a double fault to lose serve and keep the rival in contention. However, Andy broke for the third time in game nine to emerge at the top and advance into the final duel.