Roger Federer and Andy Murray avoided the need for fiddly mathematics on Thursday as they both produced dominant displays to qualify for the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
Achieving a lifetime goal can leave some players content but may also blight their ambition. For Andy Murray, however, nothing could be further from the truth.
Andy Murray narrowly avoided the wrath of coach Ivan Lendl after labouring to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 win over Australian qualifier John Millman in his opening match at the Brisbane International on Thursday.
'There are a number of unique challenges elite tennis players have to face. The game is gladiatorial in nature with nowhere for players to hide and no team mate or manager to help deflect the pressure.'
Roger Federer once again conceded defeat to arch-rival Rafael Nadal when he and his fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Nadal and Carlos Moya.
Photos from French Open matches played at the Roland Garros on Friday
Top ranked Serena Williams made a successful return to hard courts with a 6-3, 6-2 thrashing of former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the second round of the Rogers Cup on Wednesday.
World number one Rafa Nadal battled back to defeat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 at the Cincinnati Masters on Thursday and Britain's Andy Murray needed a final set tiebreak to beat Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.
Andy Murray's hopes for a maiden Grand Slam at the U.S. Open may require him to beat world number one Roger Federer for a second time in five weeks after the duo were placed in the same half of the draw on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal posted a 7-6, 6-4 win over Andy Murray to claim a place in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters.
Holder Rafael Nadal provided more evidence that he is regaining his old dominance on clay after an injury-hit 2009 by cruising past Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2 at the Rome Masters on Thursday. British world number five Andy Murray struggled, however, and lost 6-3, 6-4 to Nadal's Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
In the semi-finals, the 13th seeded Murray will meet 12th seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who overpowered 14th seed David Ferrer of Spain 6-3 6-4.
Novak Djokovic, Petra Kvitova and Andy Murray were among the top players who eased into the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday.
World No 1 Rafael Nadal eased into the French Open final after defeating Britain's Andy Murray 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 at the Roland Garros on Friday.
Konta first British woman in US Open last 16 since 1991
Images from Day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros, on Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal produced one of his best performances of the year to beat Andy Murray 6-4, 6-1 at the ATP World Tour Finals and move within sight of the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Tomas Berdych enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable passage into the quarter-finals of the French Open on Sunday after dismissing fourth seed Andy Murray with ease on a gloomy Court Suzanne Lenglen court.
The centre-back was at the Madrid Open earlier this week, reportedly to discuss a 16-team knockout tournament with ATP Tour chief Chris Kermode. It would potentially replace the former World Team Cup event on the ATP calendar that was played from 1975 to 2012 ahead of Roland Garros.
Olympic champion Andy Murray suffered a second pre-US Open setback in as many weeks when he was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open in the third round on Thursday, losing 6-4, 6-4 to France's Jeremy Chardy.
Brad Gilbert has agreed to coach Andy Murray and assist the LTA with its performance programmes.
John McEnroe was surprised when Andy Murray named Ivan Lendl as his new coach but thinks his old rival may prove to be the missing ingredient the Briton needs to take his career to the next level.
Juan Martin del Potro delivered a huge blow to Britain's hopes of retaining the Davis Cup when he beat Andy Murray 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in a five-hour thriller as Argentina grabbed a 2-0 lead in their world group semi-final on Friday.
World number four Andy Murray has withdrawn from Britain's Davis Cup tie against Lithuania in March and will in future discuss his participation with the Lawn Tennis Association before every match.
The tension mounted and temperatures soared at the U.S. Open as top seed Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray set up a sensational quarter-final, and Serena Williams made a 2014 grand slam breakthrough.
With temperatures reaching almost 38 degrees on court, Murray, a twice Wimbledon champion, was beaten 7-6(4), 6-2 by Australian world number 90 Jordan Thompson.
Novak Djokovic steered Serbia into the Davis Cup semi-finals with a straightforward 6-4 6-4 win over Britain's Cameron Norrie to give his team a winning 2-0 lead on Thursday.
British number one Andy Murray expressed relief and frustration on Monday after surviving a five-set examination in the first Wimbledon match played entirely under the new Centre Court roof. The third seed needed nearly four hours to defeat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 under the lights after officials decided to keep the roof closed because of the threat of rain.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a scare.
Andy Murray relied on brains and Dinara Safina banked on brawn to reach the third round of the French Open on Wednesday. But two decades of experience could not prevent sentimental French favourite Fabrice Santoro taking his final singles bow at Roland Garros.
Roger Federer ranged from imperious to effective as he beat Michael Llodra 6-0, 7-6 in the Dubai Championships on Tuesday but Britain's Andy Murray was made to fight for his spot in the second round.
Britain's Andy Murray knocked out top-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 6-2 on Friday to set up a final meeting with Croatian Ivan Ljubicic at the $1 million Qatar Open.
Ivan Ljubicic will take on Robin Soederling in Friday's other semi-final.
Three-times champion and world number one Novak Djokovic has been drawn in a group with U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in next week's season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Tomas Berdych gets a shot on Friday at his second Grand Slam final in 52 attempts, but the perennial top-10 player from the Czech Republic will not shed any tears if he makes it but fails to lift the Wimbledon crown -- provided he gives his all.
In case anyone thought Andy Murray would get carried away after winning his first title on home soil, he marked the occasion with an alcohol-free night before quickly switching his thoughts to Wimbledon.
Venus Williams, inspired by the sight of younger sister Serena earlier in the week, stepped back onto the court alongside Jamie Murray in the mixed doubles thanks to a wildcard entry and promptly booked a spot in the second round.
Andy Murray called on umpires to get tough on players taking too long between points on Thursday after being made to work hard for victory against a determined Fernando Verdasco at the ATP World Tour Finals.
World number one Novak Djokovic clawed his way to victory over Tomas Berdych in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday but Andy Murray's prospects look bleak after a groin injury flared up in his shock defeat by David Ferrer.
Britain's Andy Murray has said he wants American tennis guru Brad Gilbert to be the coach to take him to the next level.
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