Andy Murray Blasts Into Shanghai Semis

Andy Murray took just fifty five minutes to see off Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga to reach the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

The Scot has picked up his form after an early exit in Beijing last week as he searches for his second title of the 2010 season, winning the Toronto Masters earlier this summer.

Tsonga was playing in only his second tournament since being sidelined with an injury and he still looked less that 100% as he took on the British number one earlier today.

Murray immediately put pressure on the Frenchman's serve and while Tsonga held off a break in the opening game Murray took the advantage in the third game as he found a way through.

He extended his lead in the seventh game and Tsonga never looked like clawing his way back in to the set as Murray's serve was holding up well.

The double break was enough for the fourth seed to take the opening set and he had the upper hand again early in the second as a double fault handed Murray the break.

Tsonga's challenge faded in that third set and Murray broke for the fourth time in the match to take a 5-2 lead and was left to serve for the set.

And while he did fall 0-30 behind in that service game the Scot pulled himself together to battle back and wrap up the match 6-2 6-2.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match Murray said: "It was good, I served really well.

"Jo was struggling a bit on his serve so I was able to get into a lot of the return games and I served really well all week so it was a good performance.

"I hit the ball really clean from the back of the court and the surface here is really good for me."

Murray will now face Juan Monaco as he came through a tough three set encounter with Jurgen Melzer, who had put out top seed Rafael Nadal yesterday.

It was Melzer who took the opening set in a tight tie break, 8-6. But Monaco battled back in a close second set, finally finding a way through 5-7 to force a third and deciding set. Here Melzer's challenge melted away as Monaco dropped just two games to wrap up a 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 2-6 win.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw