Welcome to live text commentary of the second semi-final of the Shanghai Masters as two-time defending champion Andy Murray takes on world number one Roger Federer.

Thanks for your company throughout this rain-affected semi-final. Murray keeps his hopes of claiming a hat-trick of Shanghai Masters crowns very much in tact, and he will now face his good friend Djokovic in the showpiece final. Who are you backing for the title?

MURRAY 6-4 6-4 - MURRAY IS THROUGH TO THE FINAL! Murray shows real composure as he gathers himself after the delay and finds a big first serve to win the first point. Federer plants a tame backhand return into the net, but gets back to 30-15 with a forehand which drops on the baseline. Murray comes through to hold after 30, hammering a big serve outwide to close out the match, and he's through to the final to meet Djokovic!

Here we go, Murray to attempt to serve out for the match...

UPDATE: Right, at last, the players are back out on court and warming up. We should be back under way with Murray serving for the match in just over five minutes' time, and no rain can affect us now with the roof on.

Bridget describes this as another "controversial and gladiatorial" Murray match, while Chris Matthews believes that the Brit will win this tournament and come through.

UPDATE: Well, maybe not exactly an update. The players are still yet to emerge, and this is getting a bit farcical considering that it was just a brief, light shower. The roof is taking an eternity to close, and the court to be considered 'match ready' once more.

Just to clarify, the roof is being closed and that is why there is a delay on the Stadium Court. It is almost closed, and there is some frantic mopping up on the court, which got slightly wet.

Sammy Nari reckons that Djokovic will win the final in three sets, while Carry F still fancies Federer to come through and win this match and the Shanghai title. No takers for Murray, really?

UPDATE: Well, the officials are providing very contradictory updates now as the original eight-minute delay has been extended to "15 or 20 minutes". As a result, both players march off court, with Murray understandably particularly frustrated about it all.

During this break, let me know who you think is going to win the Shanghai Masters final.... Will it be Djokovic? Murray? Or even Federer if he can recover here?

UPDATE: Murray charges off for a toilet break, while Federer puts on his tracksuit top. Apparently the roof takes eight minutes to close, and the players will have to wait. Murray will be serving for the match when we resume!

Oh dear! It's started to rain again and, in the umpire's words, "it's worse than before"... The players head to their chairs and will now have to wait this out. The roof will be shut this time, and let's hope they go ahead with that this time.

MURRAY 6-4 5-4 - Federer races to 40-15, but Murray unleashes a screaming forehand winner cross court to force his way back into the game. Federer is undeterred, however, and he finds a big first serve down the T to close out the game, and that now means that Murray can serve out for the match from 5-4 up in this second set.

MURRAY 6-4 5-3 - What a game from Murray! Federer tries his utmost to apply further pressure from 15-15 with some fine retrieving from the back of the court, but Murray will not be denied, and he slams a forehand down the line and manages to hold with a precise sliced backhand as he races in court. Can Federer make Murray attempt to serve out for the match?

MURRAY 6-4 4-3 - Federer is again put under an enormous amount of pressure, but this time Murray goes wide with a forehand at 30-30 and proceeds to flag in a long rally to end the game. Federer manages to hold serve, and he reduces the deficit, getting back on track on serve.

MURRAY 6-4 4-2 - Federer throws absolutely everything at Murray as he finds a forehand winner down the line and manages to race in and pick out a very fine half-volley, but the British number one still manages to come through and hold to consolidate his break of serve.

MURRAY 6-4 3-2 - BREAK! Federer storms to 40-0 with some clinical serving to leave Murray with no chance, before the US Open champion slams a forehand cross court to peg him back. Murray roars back to take the game to deuce, and a quite brilliant forehand winner closes the game out as he breaks serve! It's a brilliant resurgence, and he now has the advantage!

MURRAY 6-4 2-2 - Murray again holds, but this time he's under immense pressure as Federer hammers a fierce forehand down the line for a winner to move to 30-30. The Brit comes through with two blistering forehands of his own, and he's level once more.

MURRAY 6-4 1-2 - Murray battles his way to 30-30 as he pegs Federer back once more on return, and he finds a quite incredible backhand passing shot to put his opponent under pressure. But the Brit curses himself as he plants a backhand into the net, and Federer is able to hold to 30! This second set is hugely dramatic already, and we're only three games into it.

MURRAY 6-4 1-1 - As is so often the case, an epic game is followed by a very brief one, and Murray is able to hold with relative ease to level up this second set with both players holding at the start of it. The quality is quite incredible and, after that delay for a light shower, the roof is actually going to remain open for now.