Murray reaches semifinals at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) — Second-seeded Andy Murray overcame strong resistance from Richard Gasquet to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters for the first time on Friday.

Playing in his sixth quarterfinal at the indoor tournament, Murray struggled with his first serve but managed to break the 10th-seeded Frenchman three times to advance with a 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 win.

Murray had won his two previous matches in less than one hour. He was made to work hard by Gasquet and spent more than 2 ½ hours on court.

After recovering from a slow start, Gasquet pleased the crowd with some spectacular one-handed backhands to level at 1-set all. He then broke in the third game of the deciding set but could not hold his next serve.

Murray, who has now achieved his best match record in a single season with a 67-11 mark, made the decisive break in the eighth game then served out the match at love.

Gasquet rued his missed chances in the tiebreak, when he failed to convert a set point after Murray hit a chipped backhand pass down the line.

"He made an incredible shot. There are only three or four players who can do that," Gasquet said.

Murray, who has now reached the semifinals of all nine Masters tournaments, will next face either eighth-seeded David Ferrer or No. 13 John Isner.