Andy Murray faces Tomas Berdych on Friday in the 2013 Cincinnati Masters quarterfinals. The match starts at 3 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream HERE.
The 2013 Wimbledon champion can add a fifth ATP title to his season by winning the Western & Southern open. Murray, ranked No. 2 in the World, had played well all season and entered the hard-court tournament with a 35-6 record.
His performance has carried through thus far. Murray hasn't dropped any sets: he defeated Mikhail Youzhny in his opening round (6-2, 6-3), and then Julien Benneteau (6-2, 6-2).
The importance of quickly finishing each match isn't lost on Murray.
"You want to try and get off quickly because you need to play the next day," Murray told BBC. "In 10 days' time, we're going to have to play best-of-five sets, so sometimes the long matches can kind of set you up for that well.
"But in terms of winning this event, better to get off quick because you have to play five days in a row if you want to win."
Murray can continue the bid for his third Cincinnati Masters title with a win against Berdych.
The World No. 6 Czech began the tournament with a 37-15 record, but no titles for the season. He recently lost in the first round at Roland Garros, the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the third round at Montreal.
Berdych hasn't dropped a set so far. He beat Jarkko Nieminen in the opening round (6-3, 6-2), and then cruised by Tommy Robredo (6-3, 6-0).
If history is any indication, Friday's match will be close. The two have faced each other nine times, with Berdych winning five of the matches. Their last meeting was this year at Madrid, where Berdych won in two sets.
One advantage Murray could have is the hard surface of Cincinnati's court. Murray won three of the five matches they played on hard-courts.
*Stats via ATPWorldTour and MatchStat.com.
