Murray inches closer to season-ending Finals spot with Vienna Open semifinal win

British number one Andy Murray recorded a straight set win over Serbia's Viktor Troicki to advance to the Vienna Open final and boost his chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals.

Murray, who won 6-4, 6-3 and is 10th in the race to London, is competing in Austria alongside Spain's David Ferrer, who is ninth. Top seed Ferrer overcame a scare to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3) to reach Sunday's final.

The top eight players qualify for the season-ending Finals and if Murray beats Ferrer, he would move to eighth, The BBC reported.

Murray, who converted four break points compared to just one by his opponent, said that he has been getting a bit better with each match, and added that he needs to play well on some key points.

The Scot said that whomever he plays in the final, it won't be easy, and added that Ferrer would be tough for sure, as he's very motivated, like him, for London.

Ferrer will know he would need to play better if he is to beat Murray in the final. He was forced to save eight of 11 break points against Germany's Kohlschreiber, who completely outplayed his opponent in the second set.

Tournaments in Valencia and Paris follow the Vienna Open in Murray's pursuit of ranking points.

Murray's chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals were boosted by defeat for Wimbledon semi-finalist of Canada in round two of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Thursday.

The Scot is still under pressure, though, from Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov who is through to the final of the Stockholm Open after he beat Australian Bernard Tomic 6-3, 7-5, the report added.