ATP World Tour Finals | Murray and Nishikori through to semis

ATP World Tour Finals | Murray and Nishikori through to semis

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Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori qualified for the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday, with the former beating world No 3 Stan Wawrinka in his final group match and the Japanese making the cut despite losing 6-3, 2-6, 3-6 to Croat Marin Cilic in the last cluster outing.

British world No 1 Murray brushed aside the Swiss 6-4, 6-2 at the O2 Arena in London to top the John McEnroe Group with a clean slate, while world No 5 Nishikori advanced by winning the required one set off the Croatian world No 7.

 In the semi-finals later on Saturday, Murray will take on Canadian world No 4 Milos Raonic and Nishikori will meet world No 2 Novak Djokovic, who on Friday topped the Ivan Lendl Group to stay on course to reclaim the top ranking that he lost to Murray earlier this month.

Murray withstood some early pressure from Wawrinka, who was hitting winners at will, before taking control of the match in the seventh game of the opening set.

"The first set was tight. There weren't many chances. I managed to get the break late in the set. In the second set I'd already qualified for the semis, so maybe it was easier for me to play more free than him," Murray told BBC.

The second set proved to be a one-way contest with Murray needing just eight games to close out the match.

Murray has beaten big-serving Raonic thrice this season, including the Wimbledon final.

"He's(Raonic)) played very well in this event. These are quick conditions here and it'll be tough. He's got a huge serve," Murray said.

In the last group match of the event, Nishikori, like Murray, needed just a set to qualify, and he did it in the first attempt.

Cilic, who had suffered defeats at the hand of Murray and Wawrinka in the opening two matches, rallied to win 6-2, 6-3, but the result did not help the Croat’s qualification hopes. He will, however, gain a place in the world rankings, leapfrogging Frenchman Gael Monfils to become the new world No 6.

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