Murray reaches semifinals at Paris Masters

Murray earlier beat David Ferrer 6-4, 6-3 to record a fourth consecutive win against the eighth-seeded Spaniard and reach his first final at the Paris indoor arena.

Wawrinka beat Djokovic in the French Open final this year, but there was to be no repeat in the same city as Djokovic claimed four breaks of serve and regained his composure after losing his temper in the second set.

The 28-year-old Serb produced a big first serve and a forehand victor off the blocked return to pull the first set into tie-break, which was dominated by Djokovic, winning four of the first five points to take control.

Neither player could manage a break of serve, the first time that has happened to Djokovic in 680 career wins, according to ATP statistics. Djokovic was absent from the Madrid Masters and lost to Murray in Montreal and Roger Federer in Cincinnati – both times in the final.

Anderson, who served 20 aces, cracked in the final set as Nadal secured a meeting with fourth seed Stan Wawrinka after the Swiss eased past Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-4 7-5.

“So that kind of was a positive to that, knowing that I can break him most of the time”. “We’ll try next year to go one better”.

“What he’s done this year has been exceptional and when players have years like that it draws a lot of attention to the sport because of how consistent he is and how many matches he’s won”, Murray said of Serbia’s 10-time grand slam champion. “I thought he did very well today when he needed it. I thought he served great”.

Gasquet’s win over Kei Nishikori came when the Japanese star retired due to back pain while trailing 6-7 (3), 1-4.

Murray next plays Spain’s David Ferrer who downed big- serving John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, with the American finishing the match exhausted.

The first set was a 73-minute cliffhanger. This is a tournament I’ve struggled at in the past. I’m hoping I can play as well as I did there.

“It was good for me to get the chance to play him before the Davis Cup and see his game and the speed of his shots and where he maybe makes a few mistakes from and things that he likes to do”, Murray said.

The Scot broke early in the first set for a 2-0 lead, but Ferrer got back on level terms in the sixth game with a break of his own. “If I can do that it will be the highest I’ve ever finished so that’s a positive”.

Federer, who won his hometown tournament in Basel last weekend, will now switch his focus to London and the ATP World Tour Finals.