Federer and Murray easy through in Dubai

Roger Federer and Andy Murray moved into the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships with straight-sets victories today.

Four-time former champion Federer, seeded second in the absence of Rafael Nadal, took an 11-0 head-to-head record into his clash with Mikhail Youzhny and was rarely troubled in a 6-3 6-4 victory over the Russian.

Murray has endured a post-Australian Open dip in the past two years but is showing no signs of that this season and he progressed to the last four with a first win over Tomas Berdych since 2005.

The world number four had won only one of their previous four meetings but came through a sometimes scrappy clash with the fifth seed 6-3 7-5.

Murray made a great start, winning the first seven points and saving four break points on his way to taking the opening set.

He was twice a break ahead in the second but let it slip both times before gaining the crucial advantage when he broke again in the 11th game.

Still it was not straightforward, Murray seeing six match points come and go and then saving a break point in controversial circumstances after a HawkEye challenge before finally wrapping up victory on his seventh chance.

Murray conceded he had lost his way a little bit in the second set but was happy that he managed to get across the winning line.

"Tactically I was doing the right things, and then maybe got away from that a little bit," the 24-year-old said. "But I just hung in at the end. I fought and scrambled and did what I had to do to win."

Murray could now face a rematch with world number one Novak Djokovic, who won an epic encounter between the pair in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.

"I would like to get a chance to play him again," added Murray. "Before the Indian Wells/Miami stretch it would be good to see exactly what I need to work on, where my game is.

"I had a great match with him in Australia, and hopefully I can reverse the result tomorrow."