Magic Murray reaches maiden final Last Updated: Saturday, 1 October 2005, 11:38 GMT 12:38 UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4297610.stm Britain's Andy Murray continued his rapid rise as he beat home favourite Paradorn Srichaphan in the Thailand Open to reach his first ATP Tour final. The 18-year-old Scot battled back from a set down to triumph 6-7 7-5 6-2 and clinch a dream final against world number one Roger Federer on Sunday. Federer had earlier beaten Finn Jarkko Nieminen in straight sets. Murray recovered from losing a first set tie-break to overrun his more experienced Thai opponent. He lost his first service game of the match but hit back immediately and stayed with Srichaphan throughout the first set despite some inconsistent serving. The Briton was forced to save three break points in the sixth game before levelling at 3-3, and might have seen his tenacity rewarded at 5-5. Murray worked himself two break point opportunities, but each time he netted a backhand, showing his frustration by banging his racquet into the ground. The 18-year-old repeated the act after a double fault saw him fall 5-1 behind during a tie-break in which he was always in arrears, eventually losing it 7-3. Surely this display confirms him as one of the top three or four emerging talents in the game From C Have your say on Five Live Srichaphan, who has slipped to number 57 in the world after a highest ranking of nine two years ago, continued to hold serve comfortably in the first half of the second set. But Murray, showing patience and application, gradually started to work some openings, and was rewarded as the pressure told on the Thai in the 12th game. A double fault put Srichaphan in trouble at 0-30, and a sparkling cross-court backhand pass gave Murray three break points. He only needed the first, taking the set 7-5, despite receiving treatment for a wrist problem after going 6-5 up. After Srichaphan required medical treatment for cramp at 2-3 down in the decider, Murray seized on the ailing Thai's vulnerability to break him in the next game. After confidently holding serve, the Scot then rammed home his superiority by breaking again to take it 6-2. Earlier, Federer moved to within one win of an 11th title this season after powering past Nieminen. The world number one won 6-3 6-4 to record his 30th successive victory - the longest winning streak since Thomas Muster won 35 on the trot in 1995. With 76 wins this year and just three defeats, Federer is close to beating his 2003 best of 78 wins in a season. --

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