Andy Murray reached the final of AEGON Championships after a straight sets victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero at Queen’s. It took Murray, bidding to become the first British winner of the tournament since Bunny Austin, just 71 minutes to see off the Spaniard 6-2 6-4.

The 22-year-old became the first British finalist in the tournament since Tim
Henman seven years ago and faces James Blake in the final tomorrow after Blake’s compatriot Andy Roddick was forced out through injury. Roddick suffered a sprained ankle at the end of the third game and continued for a further 5 games before retiring. The American, perhaps as a precaution for his Wimbledon hopes, pulled out during the first set with the score tied at 4-4.

Murray, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, was quickly into his stride against Ferrero and broke the Spaniard’s serve in the opening game of the first set. It was the perfect start for the Scot, who quickly increased the lead by holding his serve easily in the second game.

Clay specialist Ferrero, ranked 90th in the world, struggled to cope with Murray’s returns but held serve when the tournament top seed found the net. But Murray made it 3-1 with a superb drop shot and the world number 3 broke Ferrero’s serve again in the fifth game. It was a one-sided semi-final with Murray’s class all too evident. The Briton easily held his serve once more to make it 5-1 after just 21 minutes of play.

Ferrero managed to reduce the deficit to 5-2 with some superb cross-court volleys but it was only a temporary respite. After double-faulted for the first time in the game, Murray soon made it 15-all and an over-hit return gave the Scot a great opportunity to take the first set 6-2. Ferrero almost lost the opening game of the second set on his serve but fought back from love-40 to lead 1-0, showing signs of his ability to stage an unlikely comeback.

It was Murray’s turn to wobble and a breathtaking rally ended with Ferrero making it love-30 thanks to a wonderfully executed back-hand drive. But Murray was soon in front with two successive aces and went on to make it 1-1. The Scot then missed an opportunity to break Ferrero’s serve in the third game and struggled to make it 2-2 as the Spaniard finally came to life.

Ferrero was playing his best tennis of the semi-final and Murray found it difficult to break the his serve at this point. However, the breakthrough for Murray finally arrived in the seventh game when Ferrero’s over-hit return gave the Scot a break of serve and a 4-3 lead. Murray reaffirmed his control over the take by holding his serve in the next game to take a 5-3 lead in the second set and a step closer to the final.

Ferrero kept himself in with a chance of saving the set when he held serve to make it 5-4 but Murray finished him off in the next game to win the match 6-2 6-4. The Scot has no preference as to who he meets in the final but Roddick, gunning for a fifth title at Queen’s is favourite to make it. “I’ve played Andy Roddick quite a few times and he’s got a great record here. I won’t pick one or the other but it will be a tough match whoever I play,” said Murray.

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