Murray ends Ferrer's Australian Open dream

David Ferrer's run at the Australian Open came to a noble halt on Friday as world number five Andy Murray produced some inspired tennis to reach the final at the expense of the Spaniard. Ferrer, playing in his second Grand Slam semifinal, identified Murray's greater experience of the big occasion as key, and so it proved as Murray held his nerve, and served impeccably, when it mattered most.

Ferrer took the first set 6-4 and earned a chance to take the second on Murray's serve, but the 2010 runner-up conjured up a thundering delivery to deny Ferrer a two-set advantage. In the ensuing tie-break, Murray limited Ferrer to two points to level the match. Ferrer, the world number seven, lost the third set in 42 minutes and Murray, who raced to a 2-0 lead in the fourth, might have thought the Spaniard's spirit shot.

But Ferrer is a tenacious fighter and battled back to force a second tie-break as the two players exchanged scintillating shot play and equal measures of howling anguish at every missed opportunity. Eventually, Murray's risky line-seeking - the Scot hit 63 winners to 60 unforced errors - won out as he took the tie-break 7-2. Murray will play Novak Djokovic, the 2008 champion, in Sunday's final.

"I had my chance in the second set, but he served really well," said Ferrer. "Andy is a very, very good player. But I am seventh in the world because I played well before and now. Rafa is number one because he is the best. Federer is number two because he's the second best. I am seventh, and next week, sixth."