Murray fights back to book Ferrer final

British number one Andy Murray held off a strong challenge from Richard Gasquet to claim a 6-7 (3/7) 6-1 6-2 win and book a place in the Sony Open final against David Ferrer.

Eighth seed Gasquet started like a train before claiming the first set on a tie-break, but Murray asserted his authority in the second and third sets of an entertaining semi-final.

Murray will next take on third seed Ferrer, who beat veteran German Tommy Haas in the opening semi, with the Briton playing both for the title and the number two spot in the world rankings. A win will take him above Roger Federer.

"The first set was a tough one to lose," Murray told Sky Sports 2. "I hit something like 20-odd winners, so to lose it was tough.

"I felt like I was dictating a lot of the points but just made a few unforced errors on the backhand side at the end. I did well in the second and third sets to keep up my intensity."

And Murray said of Gasquet: "He always comes up with unbelievable points. He's incredibly talented. In the tie-break he played two pick-ups off his toes for clean winners. He's in the top 10 in the world and he's playing very well."

On the final against Ferrer, he added: "It will be a tough match. He's had a great week, he's in great shape. He's always tough to play against."

After Gasquet took the first set, the standard noticeably dipped at the start of the second. But some eye-catching defence from Murray, as he hammered a Gasquet overhead straight back at him, helped the Scot to break for 3-1.

That proved to be the turning point in the match. A pinpoint lob helped Murray to another break for 5-1, then he held to love, sealing the set with an ace.

Gasquet received treatment to his feet at the end of the set, but it did nothing to switch the momentum as Murray broke again at the start of the third. Murray contrived to bring his opponent back into the match as two double faults saw him surrender the advantage, but broke again immediately and this time it proved decisive.