TENNIS:Andy Murray has been gifted a place in the final of the Miami Masters after his scheduled semi-final opponent Rafael Nadal withdrew due to a left knee injury. Murray had been scheduled to battle the Spaniard for a place in the showpiece, but Nadal failed in his bid for fitness after struggling with the injury in his three-set quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Nadal’s withdrawal grants Murray, who won the tournament three years ago, his second walkover of the week, having been given a third-round pass over injured Canadian Milos Raonic. Writing on his Facebook page, Nadal said: “So sorry for my fans, those here at Miami and those around the world. My knee won’t let me play today.”