Andy Murray beats Bernard Tomic to reach Brisbane final

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Andy Murray
Image caption,

Murray beat doubles partner Marcos Baghdatis in the quarter-finals

Andy Murray breezed into the final of the Brisbane International with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Australian teenager Bernard Tomic.

The British number one and top seed was watched in person for the first time by new coach Ivan Lendl.

Murray will face third seed Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat second seed Gilles Simon, in Sunday's final.

Brisbane is Murray's last event before the Australian Open, the year's first major, which starts on 16 January.

"He started very well but I managed to get into a lot of long rallies at the end of the first set and got through," said Murray.

"I'm just moving so much better. It's such a huge part of my game, so when I move well the rest of my game goes well and it made it hard for Bernard to hit lots of clean winners."

Tomic, 19, gave Murray plenty to think about in the early games before Murray grabbed the decisive break to go 5-3 up.

He clinched the opening set with another strong service game which included two aces.

Murray broke Tomic in the opening game of the second set, which saw the world number 42 call for the trainer to deal with a foot problem.

Tomic continued to battle despite the injury but any hopes a partisan crowd harboured of a comeback were dashed when Murray converted his fourth break point to go 5-2 up.

Murray, bidding for his 22nd ATP Tour title, duly finished things off in style, holding to love.

Dolgopolov, the Ukrainian, reached an ATP hardcourt final for the first time with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Simon.

Dolgopolov, 23, needed treatment for a groin strain during the second set and had his right thigh heavily strapped, but it did not blunt the powerful forehand he used to unravel his French rival.

Murray beat world number 15 Dolgopolov in the Australian Open quarter-finals, external last year.

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