Murray, Youzhny reach Valencia final

VALENCIA, Spain, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Scotsman Andy Murray and Russian Mikhail Youzhny will battle Sunday for the $3 million Valencia Open championship.

Murray reached the final by knocking off fourth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the semifinals. Murray is 7-1 lifetime against the Spaniard.

Youzhny rallied past countryman and No. 2 seed Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a nearly 2 1/2-hour marathon. Davydenko was the third seeded player Youzhny upset this week. He also beat No. 3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No. 5 Gilles Simon.

This is Youzhny's fourth final this year. He is 5-6 lifetime in title matches.

Murray will be going after his sixth title this year and 14th of his career.

A $475,000 payday is on the line Sunday.