Up to the net comes Murray, picking up Verdasco's drop shot and the Spaniard overworks his response. Lovely work from Murray.

In fact, Verdasco's struggling on his serve. Murray speeds to three break points, his opponent continually overhitting, and that's a speedy break for Murray. 

When Murray's first serve goes his way, Verdasco struggles. All of Murray's frustration is thrown into two aces that Verdasco can only edge out.

Having said that, Murray lets a 40-15 advantage go to waste, slicing into the net before his backhand goes awry, taking it to deuce.

Some fans with Scotland deely-boppers applaud as Murray holds. It's not been the most rhythmic of starts from either player.

The first real rally we've had since the opening game goes Murray's way, before Verdasco rescues himself with a hearty thwack forehand.

A two-handed backhand puts Verdasco up but Murray darts across and forces Verdasco to hit the net, giving us our first deuce of the match.

The early advantage goes to Verdasco as Murray slices into the net - and lets out an almighty grunt of frustration - and bam, there's the ace. Verdasco holds!

Murray is not a happy bunny. Plenty of shouting and gesticulating as he takes a long slurp of water.

Can Verdasco hold his serve this time? Neither player is looking comfortable at the minute.

Cracking response from Verdasco to Murray's second serve, an almighty heave backhand that Murray can't get near.

A forehand winner down the line from Verdasco has Murray looking several shades of bemused, and another double fault on Murray's serve again gives Verdasco two break points.

Up to the net comes Murray, but there's too much on that, and he's dropped his serve for the second time! He challenges but no dice. Ten minutes and we've had three breaks.

What's Verdasco got up his sleeve? He opts to come up to the net and Murray responds by hammering a forehand back past him. He'll need a bit more oomph for that to work.

Twice Verdasco slices into the net and he swings his racquet in frustration. Three break points for Murray and he doesn't miss a beat, Verdasco over hitting to make it all square.

The first rally goes Murray's way as Verdasco overhits his backhand, before a double fault makes it 15-15.

However the first serve isn't going Murray's way, and two early double faults hand Verdasco two break points.

Murray's response? A belting, big ace that Verdasco spoons into the air, before Murray forehands into his own net. An early break for the Spaniard and a grunt of frustration from Murray.

* denotes next server

Murray, already dripping with sweat, whacks a few practice serves about as both players prepare themselves.

A full house in Dubai watches on. Here we go.

This is the first time these two have met since the Paris Masters last year, where Murray won in three sets.

Verdasco will be hoping to channel their 2013 Wimbledon epic, where he fought back from going two sets down to claim an epic five-set victory in just over three hours.

It's already been a good day for one Murray.

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Murray's dressed all in black while Verdasco has opted for a fetching, luminous orange and white combination.

Murray wins the coin toss and opts to serve first, after the traditional photo opportunity.

Both players are out on court having a warm-up.

It's the second time Murray has reached the final in Dubai. He lost to Roger Federer in his previous final appearance in 2012.

This is the first time Fernando Verdasco has reached the finals in Dubai, and he's toppled some notable names along the way,

A two hour, 25 minute battle with sixth seed Bautista Agut was in the balance all the way, before Verdsaco came out on top.

He then beat fourth seed and world number 12 Gael Monfils to reach the semi-finals, where he defeated defeated Robin Haase 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 6-1.

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Murray and Verdasco were practising with each other just a week ago...

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A bout of shingles was Murray's first stumbling block when he arrived in Dubai - but that was soon sorted out after his mother-in-law diagnosed the problem.

He beat Malek Jaziri in straight sets as he returned to action following a five week break, before beating Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-0.

He then overcame a 31-minute second-set tie-break with Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the quarter-finals, finally securing his place after a 20-18 tie-break.

Then a relatively straightforward victory over France's Lucas Pouille secured him a place in his second Dubai final.

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Murray has an excellent record against Verdasco, losing just one of their previous 13 meetings.

That defeat came back in 2009 at the Australian Open, with the Spaniard triumphing 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round.

"He's had a pretty good start to the year," Murray said of his opponent.

"I think where the balls are fairly heavy here on a quick court, he can generate a lot of power, he can control the ball."

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Andy Murray, the world number one, is into his second final of the year, facing world number 35 Fernando Verdasco.

It's his 14th final in his last 16 events, and along the way he's overcome a bout of shingles - ouch! - and the longest tour-level match tie-break since 1991.

We'll bring you live text commentary of Murray's final as he searches for his first title of the year.

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