Murray fights hard to seal a place in Battle of Brits semis

Andy Murray came through in straight sets against James Ward to reach the semi-finals at the Battle of the Brits in Roehampton last night.

The Scotsman was playing his third match of the week, having not played since November due to a bruised bone.

The three-time Grand Slam winner battled hard to take the first set, and then fought back from a break down in the second to take the match 6-3 7-5.

After losing his second match in three sets to Kyle Edmund, the 33-year-old needed a win to progress in the tournament, and he managed to come through in straights sets.

Murray said: “It’s been tough, it’s been unbelievably hot conditions in here.

“I know it’s not the worst situation to be in but usually if you’re playing a match you’ll find a cold space to go to and build up to the match and dropping your body temperature.

“But here there’s no air conditioning allowed, it’s pretty hot everywhere and it’s quite draining.

“I felt my hip a little bit but it did not affect my movement. When I played in November at the Davis Cup it was – my hip was sore and I was struggling to move.

“I’ve played three matches, the last two were a pretty high level, it’s been tough but I did quite well.

“I felt I moved the best I had done in the three matches so that’s a positive. I’m delighted I have a rest day tomorrow as I’m very tired.”

Earlier on in the day British number one Dan Evans took a solid victory 6-3 6-3 over Cameron Norrie to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Arbroath’s Jonny O’Mara and Joe Salisbury surged through to the knockout stages with a 100% record after topping their doubles group.

The 25-year-old Angus ace and Australian Open champion Salisbury posted their second straight win following a fiercelycontested 6-2, 5-7, 10-5 victory over Ward and Edmund.

O’Mara is playing his first event since losing the Chile Open final in Santiago in March.

Andy Murray is in last four.