Masters Cup result:

Semi-final:

N Davydenko (Rus) bt A Murray (GB)

7-5 6-2

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Piers Newbery

SECOND SET:

1409: Join me tomorrow at 0800 GMT for one last look this year at Davydenko and Djokovic. And hopefully Jelena Ristic.

1405: "It's a shame Murray couldn't offer more on the day - his body wouldn't allow it. He could have made a strategic decision yesterday to not give his best against Federer, but how on earth do you tell a professional sportsman with a winning mentality not to give his best?

"It was never ever an option for Andy Murray yesterday, and I think he should be proud of that. There's got to be optimism he can reach a Grand Slam final next year, and maybe even win one."
Jonathan Overend on 5 Live Sports Extra

1405: "Murray can have no regrets - he's had an outstanding season, and earned himself a great reputation. Total respect to the man for an amazing season."
From Davetroll on 606

Murray 2-6 Davydenko
Davydenko finally shows a hint of vulnerability when he dumps a backhand into the net for 15-30, but Murray helps him out by sending a backhand long. A big first serve and an ace take the Russian into the final and bring Murray's stunning 2008 to an end.

Murray 2-5 Davydenko
A fierce Davydenko backhand and a forehand volley - he's getting quite good at those - take Davydenko to 0-30. Murray plays one beautiful backhand pass on his way back to 30-30 but the Russian still takes the game in an exchange of volleys at the net. A double break and this one looks to be over.

1355: "I don't mean to make excuses for Murray (well actually I do, he could have won this) but the schedule is so unfair - no player should have an advantage over another because of a scheduled day's rest. M is exhausted. It doesn't look good, he seems to have given up..."
From georgia2221 on 606

Murray 2-4 Davydenko
Murray is struggling now, making very tired errors on both the forehand and backhand. Davydenko moves to 40-15, double faults and then reaches for a backhand drive-volley. A mixed bag from the Russian, but it did the job.

Murray 2-3 Davydenko
At 30-30, and with Murray on the run yet again, a break of serve looks inevitable but Davydenko sticks a backhand long. Deuce, and the Russian wrong-foots Murray with a forehand prompting the Scot to let out an anguished scream. Davydenko then draws his man into the net and fires a forehand straight at him, forcing Murray to volley wide. That could be that, but we've seen some unbelievable comebacks this week...

1344: "Not sure butch (see 1332 entry)... But some of them sound like they are from a different planet :-)"
From Richard, Terminal 5, via text on 81111

Murray 2-2 Davydenko
I say he's not a natural volleyer but Davydenko is a smart enough player to move forward when he has to, and he cuts off another sharp backhand volley to get to 40-0. The Russian's service games are looking impregnable at the moment.

1339: "Davydenko looks today too strong for Andy. That's Davydenko, when he's in a good mood he's invincible."
From SpanishMemberName on 606

Murray 2-1 Davydenko
He's playing well but Davydenko is never going to be natural volleyer, and he plays one pretty ropey effort into the net to fall 30-0 down. Two points later and he is back in the comfort zone on the baseline to hit an absolute screamer of a cross-court forehand for 30-30. Murray does well to hang on, taking it with a big forehand of his own. And as we head to the changeover, I swear I here the opening bars of Macarena..

Murray 1-1 Davydenko
Davydenko levels - not much to say about that one, the Russian looks confident on serve and has only double faulted once, which can be a problem for him at times.

1332: "Has anyone ever won miss universe from any planet other than earth?"
From Butch in Didcot via text on 81111

Murray 1-0 Davydenko
Fair play to Murray, he shows no sign of easing off here despite being pretty shattered. Of course he is still on to win $1.34m - but it's all about titles, isn't it? He races through his service game to 15.

FIRST SET:

Murray 5-7 Davydenko
Murray wins a lengthy opening point and Davydenko puts a straightforward backhand wide two points later for 15-30. The Russian rallies his way out of trouble, moving the Briton out of position to make it 30-30 and then hitting an ace and a backhand winner. Impressive stuff.

1321: "Murray was in the driving seat in that game but then Davydenko found three or four returns of rare quality."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra

Murray 5-6 Davydenko
Davydenko battles back from 40-15 to deuce. The Russian then sends a forehand deep towards the baseline and Murray shrieks for Hawkeye in desperation. The graphic zooms towards the baseline and shows the ball to be about two millimetres out. Moments later it's break point and Murray appears to have hammered an ace down the 'T' but Davydenko calls for Hawkeye and this time it goes against the Scot. Murray then catches the tape and it's a break for the Russian.

Jelena Ristic, girlfriend of Novak Djokovic - we think

Murray 5-5 Davydenko
Davydenko has had some wobbly moments over the last week but looks strong as he keeps himself in the set with a solid service game.

Murray 5-4 Davydenko
A fantastic effort from Murray, who holds to 15 with a lunging volley following a rather dodgy drop shot and he's one game from taking the first set.

Murray 4-4 Davydenko
Davydenko opens with two errors and then looks extremely edgy with a couple of second serves at 0-30, but Murray puts the return long and is fuming as he's pegged back to 30-30. Davydenko comes through after a couple of deuces but Murray had a real go in that game - it will be interesting to see if he can recover for his next service game.

Murray 4-3 Davydenko
Anything you can do.... Murray responds with his first love service game of the day, and these quick games will be doing him no end of good.

Murray 3-3 Davydenko
Great stuff from Davydenko who plays a fine wrong-footing backhand to get to 40-15 and then takes the game with a high-kicking first serve.

1252: Changeover update - Dexy's Midnight Runners, er, classic hit Come on Eileen.

Murray 3-2 Davydenko
This is more like it - big serves and few rallies, just like the tennis some of us grew up on. Murray eases to 40-15 and, despite a bit of Davydenko fortune at the net, holds serve to edge ahead.

Murray 2-2 Davydenko
After a marathon opening three games, Davydenko smacks down an ace for a love game.

1245: We've just had a bit of MC Hammer on the changeover. I'm trying to decide whether it's an improvement on Chesney Hawkes and Chumbawumba from the first match.

Murray 2-1 Davydenko
I'm glad I will never have to play Nikolay Davydenko. An already exhausted Murray falls 15-30 down and is then subjected to tennis torture - Davydenko stands in the middle of the court and sends Murray scurrying from side to side, backwards and forwards, brings him to the net, then lobs him. Murray runs back but can barely raise his racquet to swipe the ball into the net. Amazing stuff.

Just as amazing is the way Murray gets back from 15-40 to deuce, Davydenko gets a third break point but goes wide and the Scot eventually holds. He needs to get this over in straight sets if he's to have any chance, surely.

1236: "I think Djokovic has a lot to do this weekend to prove he deserves to be ahead of Murray in the rankings. For my money, Murray is now the better player. It's the improvement in the serve that clinches it."
From Adam, Edinburgh, via text on 81111

Murray 1-1 Davydenko
There is a glimmer of hope for Murray at 15-30 but Davydenko levels with a big second serve. He follows up with a wayward backhand, however, and it's break point. Davydenko is pushed back by a floating return that clips the line and the Russian sticks a forehand in the net. Murray looks shattered, but he's level.

1230: "Key element for Murray is first serve percentage. Hit 60%+ first serves will win this match."
From RightJudgeIam on 606

Murray 0-1 Davydenko
It's the start that all Murray fans dreaded as Davydenko punished him with relentless hitting from the baseline, earning two break points at 15-40, but a Murray serve saves the first and the Russian blazes a forehand drive-volley wide on the second. Still, a third chance arrives for Davydenko but he catches the net cord and goes wide. A fizzing backhand down the line earns him break point number four and the Russian takes it with one of his bizarre, but effective, two-handed volleys. All that for 1-0.

1224: "I could see Murray, as ridiculous as it sounds, overtaking Roger Federer and becoming three, maybe two in the world next year."
Jonathan Overend on 5 Live Sports Extra

1220: "Please welcome onto court, from Great Britain, Annnddddyyyyyy.... Moooooorrraaaaayyyy!" Blimey, they're giving it the big one today. So that's the players out on court then, Murray in his very Scottish dark blue and Davydenko in a powder blue number. The Russian wins the toss and decides to receive serve.

1217: There was much interest during the first semi-final around the, frankly, pretty lady cheering on Djokovic. As the Serb struggled in the first set, Judy Murray told 5 Live Sports Extra: "I'm wondering if this gorgeous girl who has appeared in his players' box is proving a bit of a distraction."

Apparently Djoko was asked who she was in his press conference the other day and replied simply: "Miss Universe 2006." The old charmer. A quick investigation finds that she actually has a name - Zuleyka Rivera. She's from Puerto Rico and is apparently a star in Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate. I've got 900 channels at home, it must be on one of them.

1212: Murray and Davydenko have met six times and have three wins apiece, with one victory each this year - the Russian winning last time out in Dubai, way back in March.

Murray is unbeaten so far in Shanghai on his Masters Cup debut and is on course to scoop $1.34m if he wins the whole thing, as an undefeated champion gets a massive bonus. Davydenko lost his opening round-robin match against Djokovic but has been getting stronger by the match.

1205: Afternoon all, and welcome to the penultimate day of action on the ATP Tour for this year. Andy Murray goes from strength to strength but has he recovered sufficiently from his epic win over Roger Federer on Friday to deal with the metronomic baseline skills of Nikolay Davydenko?

The winner will take on Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final (0800 GMT) after the Serb beat Frenchman Gilles Simon 4-6 6-3 7-5 in today's first semi-final.

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