Murray reaches St Petersburg Open final

New Delhi: Britain's Andy Murray will face sixth seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain in the final of the St Petersburg Open.

Murray beat world No. 19 Mikhail Youzhny in a thrilling three set battle on Saturday to enter the final.

The 20-year-old British star fought hard to win 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(1) in two hours and 31 minutes.

The win also boosted his chances of securing his place at the ATP 2007 'Race to Tennis Masters Cup' in Shanghai.

In the other semi-final Verdasco beat Croatian Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-3 in a little over an hour.

In Basle, top seed and world No 1 Roger Federer beat Ivo Karlovic in straight sets 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) to book his place in the final of the Swiss Indoors.

Federer faces Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Marcos Baghdatis in the other semi-final.

Nieminen also won in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

A title victory for Federer will ensure that he finishes the season as No. 1 for the fourth consecutive year.