Murray doubles up to ease into Newport semi-finals

NEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) British top seed Andy Murray won two matches to advance to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships semi-finals in Newport, Rhode Island.

The 19-year-old had to play twice because of poor weather on Thursday, starting with a 7-5 6-2 second-round win over American Sam Querrey in a match that resumed with Murray 5-3 ahead yesterday.

Just one hour later, the Briton had to face another American, Robert Kendrick, in the quarter-finals, and he needed just 59 minutes to rout his opponent 6-0 6-0.

''I did everything pretty well,'' Murray told reporters.

No top seed has won this tournament in its 30-year history but Murray will reach the final if he beats eighth seed Justin Gimelstob in Saturday's semi-final.

The American advanced by crushing Kristian Pless of Denmark 6-3 6-1.

Australia's Mark Philippoussis will play in Saturday's other semi-final after defeating American Mardy Fish 7-6 6-3.

Fish was also playing his second match of the day after beating Brazil's Thiago Alves 6-2 6-3 in another rain-delayed match, but he ran out of steam against the experienced Australian.

Sixth-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria will be Philippoussis's next opponent after he rallied to beat Britain's Alex Bogdanovic 2-6 6-2 6-1.

REUTERS PM ND0858