Andy Murray crushes John Isner to keep No.1 hopes on track

The Brit nullified Isner’s powerful serve - breaking four times from 10 opportunities – to become the first player in over two years to take a set 6-0 or 6-1 off his opponent.

Murray, bidding to end Novak Djokovic’s stranglehold on the world number one spot, will face David Ferrer in the last four.

The 29-year-old became irate in the second set as double faults threatened to derail his speedy progress, but he duly swatted away a flurry of break points before finally sealing victory with an exquisite drop shot.

Isner was hampered by a painful-looking blister on his hand as his three-set clash with Feliciano Lopez in round two caught up with him.

Murray will overtake Djokovic in the men's rankings if he wins in Vienna and at next week’s Paris Masters, providing the Serb fails to reach the semi-finals in France.