MURRAY STAYS ON COURSE AT SURBITON

ANDY MURRAY defeated Brandon Nakashima in straight sets to book a semi-final spot at Surbiton. The three-time Grand Slam winner dispatched the up-and-coming 20-year-old American 6-4, 7-6 in the last eight. Murray eased past the fifth seed with precious few concerns, the 35-year-old Scot inching ever closer to a first singles title on grass in six years. ‘The conditions were tricky, it was a bit blustery and there was some old school grass court tennis out there,’ he said. ‘I enjoy it here, but it is different from Wimbledon and Queen’s in terms of the way the court plays. ‘It’s a lot quicker here and there are not many opportunities to break serve. I had to stay strong at the end of the second set.’ Murray now plays another American, 81st-ranked Denis Kudla, for a place in the final.