But they had the good sense, this time, to take a back seat to a new set of political actors, who led them to an historic victory.

ECONOMIST: After Hugo Ch��vez��s defeat

Murray's spirited Serbian opponent battled back from a break down to take the first set to a tie break.

BBC: Murray reaches St Petersburg semi

The Argentinean, who won the 14th ATP title of his career in Rotterdam recently, came close to losing the contest at 4-5 in the deciding set but battled back to take it on a tiebreak.

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But the body clocks are set to take a battering, with the United players switching back to UK time on Friday - two days before their second game in Japan.

BBC: Man Utd's Japanese adventure

Rather than going on to take the set, Nadal was broken back immediately - but it was a different story two games later as Nadal cemented his advantage at the second time of asking.

BBC: Nadal & Federer through in Paris

Fifth seed Errani, ranked one place higher than Kvitova, was blown away in the first set but bounced back to take the second as she adopted a more aggressive game and won six games in a row.

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In the second set, Tipsarevic again hit back from a break down to take a 4-3 lead, but the British number one broke serve at 5-5 and held for victory.

BBC: Murray reaches St Petersburg semi

If you want to take its salty, peaty ambrosia home with you, a bottle from the souvenir shop will set you back about 20, 000 yen.

BBC: Japan��s northernmost distillery

Baghdatis was hardly troubled as he went on to take the set but the Cypriot, who had played so solidly, allowed Murray back in with a host of errors at the start of the second set.

BBC: SPORT | Tennis | Tame Murray beaten by Baghdatis