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What a shot! Murray slams a backhand crosscourt winner to get his fists pumping. Ferrer is going nowhere though, winning the next two points. Murray takes his next return early to make it 30-30. Nip and tuck. Now we're at deuce, not once but twice. Murray earns a break point ... and takes it when Ferrer curls a forehand into the net. Superb from Murray, who will now serve for the second set.

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A blast of "Don't you worry child" by Swedish House Mafia rings around this otherwise rather sombre auditorium in the gap between games. Seems rather inappropriate in a city famed for classical music. Both players seem to have found their serving touch now, with Murray easing to a hold to 15.

Ferrer launches a succession of service rockets to hold to love and close the gap in this second set to a single game.

WILFRED: , externalIn the last 3 matches between Murray and Ferrer, the player who dropped the 1st set came back to win the match.

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Good knowledge Wilfred. Ferrer won in Shanghai this year and Murray in 2013 in Miami and Wimbledon in 2012. All came from a set down to win the match.

Murray needs to consolidate the break but threatens to do exactly the opposite. A sweetly-struck lob helps Ferrer earn three break points. Murray saves all three and now it's anyone's game at deuce. Ferrer times his advance to the net to perfection to put away a backhand volley, but Murray saves his fourth break point and goes on to clinch the game with a big serve that flies high and wide off the edge of Ferrer's bat.

Now then. What's happened to Davey Ferrer? Two double faults in a row from the Spaniard and a Murray winner give the British number one two break points. Murray wastes the first with a dismal second serve return. Another second serve now ... and this time Murray sends the return into Ferrer's body. The Spaniard's reply sails long and Murray goes a break up in the second set.

Murray is in a dogfight here, with Ferrer yapping away at his heels like a cocker spaniel. Murray is taken to deuce on serve, then earns an advantage, but just when he needs to pull the trigger he nets. Ferrer steps in from the baseline to rip a forehand winner, but Murray gives as good as he gets to save a break point. Moments later, a bulldozed forehand down the line keeps Murray in the match.

Ferrer storms into a 40-0 lead in the blink of an eye. Murray wins the next two points with big hits, but Ferrer sneaks over the line to take the lead in this second set.

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Murray has it all to do now. Remember, the winner of this match will finish the week inside the eight qualifying places for the ATP Tour finals in London. The loser will be ninth with only two more events - in Valencia and Paris - to play.

Ferrer is all over Murray at the start of this game, hoisting up a brilliant lob for 0-30 on the Scot's serve before Murray dumps one into the net to give his opponent three set points. Murray saves the first two, but concedes the set when he pushes a backhand wide.

Murray throws his racquet to the ground in frustration after losing a mini-epic of a point. Ferrer finds an impossible angle on his backhand to go 40-0 ahead. Another monster of a point follows before Ferrer induces a forehand error from Murray to go 6-5 ahead.

Ferrer, sporting a tightly-trimmed goatee beard and headband, wants to finish this set here and now. But Murray is ready for him, landing his first serves and going 40-15 up with a thumping flat backhand winner. For the third time in the match, he seals it with an ace for 5-5.

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Murray hurries Ferrer into an error to take us to 30-30. Ferrer powers a forehand into the corner for 40-30 but is soon pegged back to deuce. A drilled return gives Murray a break point but Ferrer responds with a whipped forehand into the corner. Deuce after deuce follows with the game growing in importance with every passing point. Ferrer finally finishes an eight-minute game with a wide serve that Murray cannot get back over the net.

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Murray is moving well now, his trainers squeaking on the indoor surface. The Scot comfortably holds serve to take us to 4-4 in this crucial first set.

Brilliant from Murray as he lunges to catch a forehand volley and send it back across court for a winner. The shot seems to invigorate Murray and he wins the next two points to earn himself a first break point of the game.

Ferrer saves it when Murray loops a forehand long, but Murray wins his second break point when Ferrer pulls a forehand into the trees. We're back on serve in this first set.

Murray's third ace is followed by his first double fault to give Ferrer another glimmer of a chance at 30-30. Murray snuffs out the immediate danger with an ace but is taken to deuce by some sharp net play from the Spaniard. Murray saves one break point, but a horrible missed forehand gifts Ferrer the game.

Murray is clearly furious with himself. But can he respond?

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Murray goes for a big backhand winner down the line but pushes it out of bounds. A Ferrer double fault makes it 30-30, but the Spaniard hits back with a thunderous forehand winner. Murray nets a forehand and we're still on serve in this cagey but captivating final.

World number five Ferrer reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in 2013 taking him to a career-high ranking of three.

And the Spaniard is really getting into his groove now, giving himself a sniff on Murray's serve at 30-30. A weak drop shot nearly leads him in trouble, but Murray shows sharp reactions to volley a winner and then serve out the game with an ace.

Ross McD:, external Murray in 3 here. Still needs favourable draws and performances to make London, but he'll give himself a fighting chance.

Tim Arstall:, external Crucial match for Murray in terms of his immediate future, knowing his winning mentality I think he's got what it takes here

Murray, who won the first set in Shanghai last week before being blown away in the next two, is off to something of a flyer here. His defensive retrieval skills are at their best as he nudges 30-15 ahead. Ferrer responds superbly, though, finding parts of the court that even Murray can't reach as he wins the game to 30.