Murray will face top seed Andy Roddick in the semi-finals

The 18-year-old from Dunblane lost the first set to Swede Robin Soderling and was a break down in the second.

But he broke back and then out-battled the Swede to level at one set apiece before breaking early in the decider.

Soderling levelled at 4-4 but Murray broke him again and served out a courageous 4-6 7-5 6-4 victory to earn a semi-final with Andy Roddick.

The American top seed beat Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-3 6-2 in the last of the day's quarter-finals.

You don't want to be unpopular on tour, but when you are on the court you have to do what you have to do to win Andy Murray

"I started off pretty badly," Murray said after reaching his second ATP tour semi-final.

"I had a late-night match on Thursday and I didn't get to sleep until about 11 o'clock. I returned pretty well in the last two sets."

Murray threw his racket four times in the match and was given a code violation after appearing to swear at chair umpire Norm Chryst after losing the first set.

"I was trying to get myself going because I started the match so sloppy," said Murray.

"It obviously worked. I was a little frustrated at the four or five bad calls on big points."

Soderling approached Chryst to complain about Murray's behaviour, and the Briton added: "You don't want to be unpopular on tour, but when you are on the court you have to do what you have to do to win."

Roddick is looking forward to a first-ever meeting with Murray.

"He never plays himself out of a point," said Roddick. "He's very solid, he's got good energy. I like the way he plays."

Third seed Lleyton Hewitt also reached the last four with a 7-6 6-2 victory over fellow Australian Wayne Arthurs.

Hewitt hurt his left ankle during a second-round defeat at last month's Australian Open, but believes he is starting to regain his form.

"I feel like this was a step in the right direction," he said. "The first two matches I could feel it. Today I barely felt it."