Murray to face Djokovic in Indian Wells semi-final
Fourth-seed Murray beats Lopez in straight sets; Djokovic handed match after Tomic’s withdrawal.
Fourth-seed Andy Murray, with a consummate display of power and touch in tricky conditions, reached the BNP Paribas Open semi-finals with a landmark 6-3, 6-4 win over Spaniard Felicano Lopez.
On another hot but blustery afternoon at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the Scot broke left-hander Lopez once in the opening set and twice in the second to claim victory on the showpiece stadium court.
Murray will next face top-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, who was gifted a place in the last-four when Australian Bernard Tomic pulled out of their quarter-final citing a back injury.
Tomic, ranked 32nd, had reached the last eight at an elite ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis in the previous round.
Lisicki through
In the women’s draw, Sabine Lisicki staved off three match points before battling into the semi-finals after beating defending champion Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 in an enthralling contest.
The 24th seed advances to face Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals on Friday after the Serb progressed when Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko retired from their last eight encounter with an ankle injury while trailing 6-1 4-1.
The other semi-final will be contested by Romanian Simona Halep and top seed Serena Williams, back at Indian Wells after a 14-year boycott of the event where she alleged she had suffered racist abuse from fans.