Exhausted Murray sets up Roddick quarter-final

CINCINNATI, Aug 18 (Reuters) An exhausted Andy Murray dug deep into his reserves to beat American Robby Ginepri 7-6 2-6 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters.

The 19-year-old Scot, who knocked out world number one and defending champion Roger Federer in the previous round, recovered from 4-2 down in the third set to win through after two hours, seven minutes yesterday.

The Scot will now play American Andy Roddick for the third time this year, having won both their previous meetings.

''That's physically the most tired I've been on a tennis court before,'' Murray said. ''I wasn't really enjoying myself.

''It was just one of those days where you get up and my legs just weren't there. I've done a lot of running the last few weeks.

''My legs were just burning after each point. But I think it's normal. I think that's my 13th match in 16 days, so I'm not used to it, especially playing at this level as well.'' Murray broke the Ginepri serve in the opening game and led 3-1 before he was pegged back to 3-3.

The American then forced two set points on the Murray serve at 5-4 but the Scot saved them both -- the first with the benefit of HawkEye -- and then snatched the tiebreak 7-3.

As the match wore on, though, Murray began to tire visibly and Ginepri broke twice to love to level the match.

Murray looked down and out in the deciding set before somehow battling back to clinch victory.

The Scot said he had been lucky to get back into the match.

''I didn't feel, going into the third set, like I was going to win the match. I just had to keep fighting and I managed to get myself back in,'' he said.

''But it was really tough for me today. When I was a break down, I was struggling,'' he said.

''It was 4-3, 30-0 on his serve and he missed some easy balls to let me back in. This was a big match for him because he hadn't won too many matches this year and he had points to defend.

''Maybe he got a little bit nervous. When I got in at 4-4, I saw there was maybe only five, six minutes left, and I managed to push myself the last couple of games.'' Roddick was impressive as he beat Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4 6-3 to set up a third clash with Murray, having been beaten by the Scot in San Jose and at Wimbledon this year.

''He's gotten me twice this year, especially at Wimbledon - that was probably the match I felt worst about afterwards,'' Roddick said.

''I'm looking forward to it. I'm playing well and I feel like he's playing real well. Some of the best tennis of the week has probably been in both of our matches.'' REUTERS PM BS0908