Murray makes final

Andy Murray knocked out number one seed Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 6-2 in the semi-final of the Qatar Open to set up a meeting with Ivan Ljubicic in the final in Doha.

The number four seed - knocked out of the doubles competition when he and brother Jamie were beaten by Mikhael Youzhny and Nenad Zimonjic at the same stage - beat an under-par Davydenko to give him a chance to win a first tournament of 2007.

Murray came back from a break behind to win the first set against Davydenko - something he has done just once in the previous three rounds.

Murray's habit of starting slowly was not entirely erased though and after both men had held two service games he allowed Davydenko - the world number three - to break his serve before holding to go 4-2 up.

But the Scot did not crumble and won two successive games of his own, making a rare approach to the net in his own game before breaking back well against the Russian.

Then, at 6-5, Murray had three set points. He spurned the first as Davydenko refused to make the unforced error Murray was looking for but soon buckled, allowing Murray to take the set 7-5.

Davydenko was playing some way below his best and it was something of a surprise when he mustered a break of his own to briefly halt Murray's dominance.

But the Dunblane-born teenager was not worried by that setback, immediately hitting back with another break of serve before going 4-1 up.

Murray sought to bring an early end to proceedings, taking the clash to match point after just 90 minutes on court but a fine Davydenko smash averted defeat at the first attempt and the result was not in doubt and he soon won the second set 6-2 to wrap up proceedings.