ANDY MURRAY battled past David Goffin 6-2 6-2 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals in an encounter that proved tougher than the scoreline suggests.
Now the world No.2 will face France's Gilles Simon, who defeated Jack Sock 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7/5).
Murray had to produce some fine tennis to register his fifth-straight victory over his Belgian foe.
"There were many long games on his serve that could have gone either way," Murray said, after winning in one hour 35 minutes.
"He had a few chances on my serve so it was a tough match. It was a pretty long one for that scoreline but I struck the ball well and created a lot of chances on my return game."
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, may not have been all singing, all dancing, but managed a tense 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 win over world No.110 Mischa Zverev to reach the last four.
The defending champion revealed he hummed a tune to keep calm during a second-set tie-break that almost saw him dumped out in China.
Djokovic, the world No.1, has struggled with form and injuries since his third-round defeat to American Sam Querrey at Wimbledon, and was beaten in the US Open final by Stan Wawrinka.
The 29-year-old Serb admitted he sung to himself on the baseline waiting to receive serve to ensure he did not slip into a fit of petulance.
"Instead of the occasional tantrum that I used to have, I hope it's behind me, I would switch that vibration and transform it into a tune," Djokovic revealed.
"It wasn't any mantra, it was a famous song, actually. I was using it to just forget about my mistake, and it worked I hope."
Djokovic will now face Spain's Bautista Agut, who saw off Jo Wilfried-Tsonga 6-3 6-4 to book his last-four place.
"It was the most entertaining match of the tournament for me," said Djokovic. "He was the better player for most of the first part of the match. He played well tactically.
"I wasn't striking the ball very well from the beginning of the match to be honest. I was quite flat with my feet. "After that I started coming to the net more, just being more constructive with the point. I played solid at the end of the second and third sets."
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