Murray reaches first French Open semi

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PARIS: Andy Murray suffered lapses in concentration in a 7-6 7-5 6-2 win over Juan Ignacio Chela on Wednesday to reach the French Open semi-finals for the first time -- and knows he must do better against Rafa Nadal.

The fourth-seeded Briton, who's campaign had looked in danger after twisting his ankle in a third-round win over Michael Berrer, recovered from two breaks down in the opening set to win a tiebreak 7-2 and blew a 5-2 lead in the second before getting his act together.

Murray, who has never won a grand slam title, was more consistent against unseeded Argentine Chela in the third set and sealed the win with a delicate drop shot.

Murray must be switched on from the start to stand a chance of booking a place in the final because he faces world number one Nadal on Friday after the five-times champion beat Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 6-1 7-6.

Murray possesses a seemingly nonchalant attitude but has shown plenty of fighting spirit on a slow surface he does not favour.

Murray, the Australian Open runner-up, had looked on the brink of retirement against Serb Viktor Troicki in the last round as he struggled with that ankle injury, but came through in five sets.

Nadal has a 43-1 record at Roland Garros. Murray has a 4-10 record against the world number one and has never beaten him in three encounters on clay although the Spaniard dropped a set at the Monte Carlo Masters this year when they met in the semi-finals.