ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Andy Murray, Mikhail Youzhny and Fernando Verdasco Friday won their quarterfinal matches at the St. Petersburg Open Tennis Tournament.
The second-seeded Scotsman Murray rallied to beat fifth-seeded Russian crowd favorite Dmitry Tursunov, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Youzhny, the third seed -- playing before a home crowd in St. Petersburg, Russia -- was leading seventh-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, in the first set when the German retired because of fatigue.
Verdasco, the sixth seed, downed No. 4 seed Potito Starace of Italy, 6-3, 6-4.
Another winner was qualifier Marin Cilic of Croatia, who topped Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, 6-4, 6-4.
In Saturday’s semis, Verdasco faces Cilic and Youzhny will play Murray.
The eventual champion Sunday will earn $142,000.
The day was marred after Cilic's victim in Thursday’s third round, No. 1 seed Nikolay Davydenko, was fined by the Association of Tennis Professionals $2,000 for a lack of effort in the match.
