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Live Commentary: Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - as it happened

Sports Mole provides live text coverage of tonight's ATP World Tour Finals Group A decider between Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
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Andy Murray went into tonight's ATP World Tour Finals Group A decider against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga requiring just one set to reach the semi-finals.

Tsonga also began the match with hopes of joining Novak Djokovic the last four, however the Frenchman needed to win in straight sets.

Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's blow-by-blow text coverage below.


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The doubles action is over for today - Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau have just beaten Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen 6-3 7-5. Therefore, tonight's main event is on schedule and should begin just before 8pm.

Murray has beaten Tsonga in six of their previous seven meetings. The Frenchman's only success against the British number one came on the hard courts of the Australian Open, where he recorded a 3-1 win in 2008.

Speaking outside of his changing room, Tsonga says: "I have to bring my best tennis. I am playing one of the best players in the world and I will try to play as if my life depends on this match."

Murray: "Tsonga is a great athlete with a lot of power. He takes a lot of chances, so I will have to play very well to win."

Tsonga makes his way onto court, passing a very unimpressive smoke machine en-route.

Now Murray enters the Arena and is greeted by huge noise from the crowd. That is definitely the loudest this venue has been all week.

Murray wins the coin toss and elects to receive first.

The match will begin in three minutes.

Big first serve from Tsonga gives the Frenchman the upper hand and he takes the opening point with a fierce forehand. 15-0

Tsonga can't find a first serve this time. He gets into a long tactical exchange that he was never going to win against Murray, who forces the error. 15-15

More of the same. 15-30.

Two break points for Murray!

30-40.

Murray show great patience and converts his second break point. Great start from the Scot.

Murray makes a bright start to his first service game, while Tsonga seems to be trying to force his shots too much already. 30-0 to the Scot.

Murray holds to 30.

More trouble for Tsonga, as he fires a simple forehand long. 15-30 to Murray.

More break points for Murray as he produces a superb forehand pass, which an off-balance Tsonga sends narrowly long. 15-40.

Murray breaks to 15!

Great aggression from Murray wins him another game (holds to 30) and he could now be just two games away from sealing his place in the semi-finals. Tsonga needs to improve very quickly!

Tsonga gets on the board with a comfortable hold to 15. However, he remains a double-break behind.

Smart bodyserve from Murray sets up an easy forehand volley, which he puts away with ease. 15-0.

Tsonga takes a wild swing at a tame second serve from Murray. It lands long. 30-0.

Murray holds to love!

Tsonga holds to 30!

Murray will now serve for a place in the semi-finals.

Murray wins the tactical battle again, as Tsonga gets frustrated and ends a long rally with a wild forehand. 15-0.

30-15.

Tsonga can't deal with the pace of Murray's groundstrokes and he slices long to bring about two sets points for the Scot.

40-30.

Double fault from Murray! We will now enter deuce for the first time in this match.

Ace! Advantage Murray.

Tsonga strikes long again and Murray takes the opening set!

That settles it then - Andy Murray will join Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. The British number one is likely to face Roger Federer in the last four.

But first, he has a match to win. Pride, prize money and ranking points are still on the line for both these players.

Tsonga is struggling. He hammers a two-handed forehand into the net and Murray has a break point at the beginning of set two.

Murray breaks to 30.

Murray holds to 15.

Tsonga spectacularly fails to convert a comfortable overhead. This is getting ugly! 0-15.

Another break point for Murray. 30-40.

Deuce.

Murray is pushed back by powerful hitting from the Frenchman and he drives long. Advantage Tsonga.

Deuce.

Advantage Tsonga.

Murray does brilliantly to chase down two smashes, but he can't get anywhere near the third. Tsonga holds.

Murray produces his second double fault of the night, but he leads 30-15.

Superb drop shot by Tsonga. 30-30.

Tsonga fails to return a big first serve. 40-30 to Murray.

Tsonga fires narrowly long and Murray holds to 30.

According to Hawkeye, that last ball was in. However, Tsonga didn't seem in the mood to challenge!

An impressive serve and volley sees Tsonga hold to 15.

Murray holds to 30.

Tsonga holds to 30.

Big chance for Tsonga! Murray floats a tame forehand into the net and it is 0-30.

Three break points for Tsonga! The Frenchman comes out on top in a thrilling 31-stroke rally as Murray's deep lob lands just out.

Tsonga breaks to love and the second set is all square.

"Allez", shouts Tsonga, as he converts an athletic smash to edge ahead 40-30.

Tsonga holds to 30.

Murray levels the set by holding to 15.

Great court coverage from Murray sees him chase down a decent drop shot and tuck it away to set up two break points.

Tsonga produces huge back-to-back first serves to take the game to deuce.

Big hold by Tsonga!

Double fault number three from Murray takes it to deuce.

Murray backhands into the net. Set point Tsonga.

Unforced error by Tsonga - Deuce.

Murray cracks a 102mph forehand winner down the line. Advantage the Scot.

Murray holds to set up a tie-break.

First ace of the match for Tsonga. 1-0.

Murray *1-1 Tsonga.

Murray 2-1* Tsonga.

Murray 2-2* Tsonga.

Murray *3-2 Tsonga. Mini break to the Scot.

Murray *4-2 Tsonga. Murray does brilliantly to retrieve a seemingly ungettable forehand and Tsonga then slices into the net.

Murray 5-2* Tsonga.

Murray 6-2* Tsonga. Four match points.

Murray *6-3 Tsonga.

The British number one prevails in straight sets - 6-2 7-6(3).

Murray has qualified from Group A as the runner-up. He will play the winner of Group B in the last four on Sunday. His opponent will be Roger Federer unless the world number one loses to Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets tomorrow, in which case the Argentinean will win the group.

Here are the match statistics...

96 minutes.

Murray 3-1 Tsonga.

Murray 3-2 Tsonga.

Murray 76-63 Tsonga.

Murray got 64 percent of his first serves in play and won 70 percent of points behind his first serve.

Tsonga got 56 percent of his first serves in play and won 72 percent of points behind his first serve.

Murray converted 3/7 break points, while Tsonga converted 1/2.

That concludes tonight's live coverage of the tennis. Join Sports Mole again tomorrow, as Murray discovers who his opponent will be in the last four. Goodnight.

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