Amazing Win for Murray
Britain's Andy Murray has pulled off the biggest win of his young career by beating top seed Andy Roddick in the semi-finals of the SAP Open in San Jose, California.
Former US Open winner Roddick, 23, was looking for a hat-trick of victories in this event and his 24 ATP Tour titles have helped earn him over £5.5 million in prize money.
However, 18-year-old Murray, who has netted just £150,000 in comparison, belied his relative inexperience to clinch a 7-5 7-5 success over the American.
Murray will now face another formidable foe in Lleyton Hewitt in the final after the third-seeded Australian beat American Vincent Spadea 6-3 6-4 in the other semi.
Hewitt, who will be 25 next week, is a former Wimbledon and US Open winner who has amassed more than £9 million in prize money and took this title in 2002.
Roddick had looked the more comfortable on his serve in the opening set until Murray showed impeccable timing to break him in the 11th game.
The Dunblane teenager looked on course for victory when breaking the American again in game five of the second set, only for Roddick to break back immediately.
However, Murray struck once more at 5-5 and then held his nerve in a thrilling final game to wrap up a famous win.
"I think the main things in the match were that I served and returned well, and my stats on my serve when I was down in the game were great,'' said Murray.
"I made a few too many mistakes at the beginning of the match and maybe a few too many at the end when I was ahead - I was maybe going for a little too much, I don't know if it was nerves or if I just lost concentration, but overall I played very well.
"I've played well all week and I'm looking forward to playing in the final against Hewitt. I made one final before and it was against Federer, and now I get a chance to play against Hewitt so it's going to be a good match.''