0817: OK, that's it from me today but someone will return on Saturday morning for Murray v Melzer/Monaco at around 0930 BST - and hopefully the final on Sunday. Happy Friday everyone.

0812: "That was good, I served really well," says Murray. "Jo was struggling a bit on his serve and wasn't serving as big as normal, so I was able to get into the return games. It was a good performance, I hit the ball really well and the surface here is good for me."

Murray 6-2 6-2 Tsonga
Murray livens things up by dropping the first two points but serves his way back to 40-30 and match point.... and Tsonga climbs all over a second serve with a heavy forehand return. Another good Murray serve earns the Scot a second match point... and the Frenchman misses with the return. Game over, and Murray looks rightly chuffed with that, a really strong performance and all done and dusted in 54 minutes. Right, what's for breakfast?

* Murray 6-2 5-2 Tsonga
For you, Mr Tsonga, the wheels have come off. Another double-fault and two very wayward errors hand Murray the break, and he'll serve for the match. Talking of comfort breaks, Ana Ivanovic was penalised a game in Austria yesterday for an unauthorised toilet visit. "When I left the court I was really feeling sick," Ivanovic explained. "I'm really embarrassed because I had yoghurt right before I walked on. Don't ever have yoghurt before you have to play!" Wise words.

Murray 6-2 4-2 Tsonga *
Blimey, I nip out for a comfort break and come back to find Murray has already won the game. I'm guessing it was to love.....?

* Murray 6-2 3-2 Tsonga
The Chinese public love a smash - they've gone mad for each one of Tsonga's in this match, although his effort in this game is a bit special as he clips the line. A nice lob leaves Murray stranded on game point and the Frenchman stays in touch.

Murray 6-2 3-1 Tsonga *
Murray has really found his rhythm on the backhand, moving Tsonga around brilliantly at 30-15 before sealing the game with another heavy serve, and the world number four is doing the basics right today.

* Murray 6-2 2-1 Tsonga
Tsonga double-faults again - apparently it's only his fourth, feels like more - but this time he's 40-15 up, and Murray swings a backhand into the tramlines to help the Frenchman get off the mark in the second set.

Murray 6-2 2-0 Tsonga *
Tsonga might not be putting up much of a fight here, and he is on his way back from injury, but this is just what Murray needed to get his confidence back after a dodgy run, and he's playing well. A swift hold of serve sees him take total charge and the semi-finals are within sight.

* Murray 6-2 1-0 Tsonga
It's really not JW's day. He loses out on a Hawkeye challenge, finds himself at 15-40 and smacks another double-fault. This could be over before my breakfast time.
* Denotes NEXT to serve

Murray 6-2 Tsonga *
Oooof. With the set all but gone, Tsonga opens the game by leaning into a forehand and absolutely smashing it down the line - a ridiculously good shot. Murray makes an unforced error for 15-30 and that's as much trouble as he's been in today, but a service winner and a big forehand take him to set point.... and Tsonga goes long when chasing down another forehand.

* Murray 5-2 Tsonga
Sacre bleu. Do French people actually say that, or did my GCSE teacher lie to me? Tsonga double-faults to fall 0-40 down and Murray snaffles the first break point with a forehand.

Murray 4-2 Tsonga *
You know things are going well for Murray when the drop shot is working and, at 40-0, he plays an absolute killer off the backhand. Tsonga tries to chase it down but there's so much backspin it leaps away from him at the last moment.

* Murray 3-2 Tsonga
Tsonga enjoys a quick love hold as Murray goes for broke on a couple of backhands and finds the net. It's another all-but empty stadium in Shanghai - I think there are more people in this office. I checked the ticket website yesterday and the cheapest appeared to be about £24, which might have something to do with it.

Murray 3-1 Tsonga *
Yep, Murray is looking sharp today and his opponent is off the pace, a big serve consolidating the break for the Briton and he's serving at 60% so far, which should do the job.

* Murray 2-1 Tsonga
Murray opens up with a beautiful heavy topspin winner down the line and Tsonga then double-faults for 0-30. The Frenchman then goes to Hawkeye, more in hope than desperation, but finds himself at 0-40 and a forehand into the net gives Murray a break to love. A good start for the Scot, while Jo-Willy looks to be having one of his off days. So far.
* Denotes NEXT to serve

Murray 1-1 Tsonga *
These two always look like they should be a good match-up and so far that's the case. Murray wins a great rally for 30-0 with a cheeky lob volley when the ball appeared to be drifting out, and Tsonga goes for a big winner but just misses. It's a love hold for Murray - something he didn't manage too often in the previous round against Jeremy Chardy.
* Denotes NEXT to serve

* Murray 0-1 Tsonga
Murray has an early sniff of a break at 0-30 and chases down a drop shot but finds the tape with an attempted pass and the Frenchman gets out of trouble. Tsonga looks like he's about to smack away a floating backhand from Murray on game point but lets it go and, unlike at Wimbledon, this time he's correct to do so.
* Denotes NEXT to serve

0713: It's either extremely humid out there of someone has just thrown a bucket of water over Murray. Anyway, Tsonga to serve...

Times correspondent Neil Harman on Twitter: "Roof open, sun finally shining in Shanghai, Murray and JWT about to start. Different conditions entirely."

0708: So the head-to head suggests Murray is a strong favourite here but their Wimbledon quarter-final clash four months ago was hardly straightforward. Tsonga led by a set and 5-4 in the second-set tie-break with two serves to come, but he had a bit of a shocker. The Frenchman had a tempting drive-volley in his sights only to leave it and see the ball drop comfortably inside the line. That was that, and Murray never looked back as he won in four sets. Can we expect something similar today? You can pass on your wisdom - and let's face it, I could do with some help in that department - via Twitter or text on 81111 (UK) or 44 7786200666 (worldwide) with TENNIS before your message.

0705: Morning all, an early treat for you as Andy Murray takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters. The British number one has won three of their four previous matches, including the last at Wimbledon this summer, and following the surprise exit of Rafael Nadal yesterday, the draw has opened up for the winner of this one.