Murray beats Verdasco to reach Valencia final

Top seed Andy Murray [ Images ] battled past Fernando Verdasco [ Images ] in the semi-finals of the Valencia Open on Saturday, beating the fourth-seeded Spaniard 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to set up a final against Mikhail Youzhny.

World number four Murray, who before this week had not played on the ATP tour since September's US Open [ Images ] due to a wrist injury, cruised through the first set but lost his way in the second as Verdasco unleashed some powerful winners.

The Scot rallied to grab a crucial break of serve in the sixth game of the deciding set and converted his first match point when Verdasco miscued a shot that flew wide.

"It was very difficult in the first set but I managed to stay strong," Murray said. "I started to feel more comfortable as the game went on and was reading his game a bit better," he added.

The 22-year-old will be bidding for a sixth title of the year against Russian Youzhny in final after second seed Nikolay Davydenko [ Images ] squandered a one-set lead to lose 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to his unseeded compatriot.

BIT LUCKY

Davydenko, the world number seven, remains in a strong position to claim one of two remaining places at the World Tour Finals later this month but could have clinched his berth in London [ Images ] by winning the indoor hard court title in Valencia.

He looked on course for a fourth victory in five meetings with Youzhny when he won the first set but the Muscovite fought back to take the second and opened a 4-0 lead in the third as Davydenko's game fell apart.

Youzhny sealed victory when his opponent netted an easy forehand and has a chance for a second straight title after he won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow [ Images ] two weeks ago. "It was a good game, very tough, but I was a little bit lucky," Youzhny said.

Murray and Youzhny have met only once before, with the Scot winning a semi-final on carpet in St. Petersburg, Russia [ Images ] in 2007. "He's played very well the last couple of months so it's going to be difficult but I look forward to it," Murray said.

Roger Federer [ Images ], Rafael Nadal [ Images ], Novak Djokovic [ Images ], Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro [ Images ] and Andy Roddick [ Images ] have all qualified for the November 22-29 season-ending Tour Finals and Davydenko holds seventh spot and Verdasco eighth.