PARIS — 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 managed to break the 10th-seeded Frenchman three times to advance with a 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 win.
"The level during the first set was extremely good. After that it was a little bit up and down," Murray said. "I just managed to hang in at the end after losing the momentum in the second set."
The two-time Grand Slam champion next faces eighth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, who beat 13th-seeded American John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-1 in a topsy-turvy match lasting 2 hours, 26 minutes after failing to serve out the match at 5-3, 40-15 up in the second set.