IT IS sometimes said that Andy Murray could probably start an argument in an empty room.

But while the fire that can rage in him can be negative, on occasion, there are times like yesterday when an injustice can rev him up and shake him out of his slumber to get him over the line.

The world No.1’s 2-6 6-1 7-6 6-1 victory over No.8 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan, in a match played in an awkward wind, moved him into the semi-finals of the French Open for the fourth year in a row.

He’ll play 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the last four tomorrow – as he did at the same stage last year.

Trailing Kei Nishikori by a set to love at 1-1 and deuce in the second set, having let his ball toss drop, he was given his second violation for taking too much time, which resulted in a loss of serve.

Murray remonstrated with the umpire, Carlos Ramos, who told him he was consistently well over the 20-second rule between points and the Scot, riled up, proceeded to turn his game around.

A fine second serve won him the point, which prompted a loud “Let’s go” and when he held serve, he let loose a big yell and fist pump in the general direction of the umpire.

“I have never seen anyone get a warning after they have missed the ball toss,” a puzzled Murray said. “I have never seen that.”

Murray said the incident had not had a major impact on the match but it certainly got him going, having been outplayed in the early stages as Nishikori, who beat him at the same stage of the US Open, took his groundstrokes early and rushed Murray into mistakes.

“I was fired up, because I was frustrated at that moment. It felt to me like it was a strange decision,” he said. “But I don’t know how much [effect] it had.

“I broke the following game. Kei played a poor game to break. I didn't do anything special, but that was a critical period of the match because he started way better than me. He had chances beginning of the second, as well. And then from there I started to do a bit better. It wasn't the best match. It was tricky out there.”

Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski, commentating on Eurosport, said Murray always responds well when there is something to get annoyed about.

“This is what got him into the match,” Rusedski said. “Kei Nishikori probably wished that Carlos Ramos never got involved because all of a sudden that was the turning point in the set and in the match.

“From there on in Murray went from strength to strength and yes he had his ups and downs and let Nishikori back in but Murray just kept getting fired up.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy who can defend as well as Murray and also complain as much as Murray and still play such great tennis – it’s an amazing mix.”

As Nishikori’s game dipped, with several unforced errors on both sides, Murrray grew in confidence, storming through the rest of the second set and breaking to lead 3-2 in the third.

A sloppy service game handed Nishikori the break back though for 3-3 and from then on it was a dogfight.

Murray broke for 6-5 but a big backhand winner from Nishikori gave him the break back again, only for the Scot to rip through the tiebreak 7-0.

Though he was broken in the opening game of the fourth set, Murray stepped up a gear to win the next six games and set up a clash with No.3 seed Wawrinka, who crushed Marin Cilic 6-3 6-3 6-1.

“Obviously if someone had offered me a semi-final spot before the tournament, I would have signed up for that because I was not playing well at all. It’s been really good so far. I want to keep going.”

Nine-time champion Rafa Nadal, who advanced when Pablo Carrena-Busta withdrew early in the second set of their clash with abdominal trouble, will play Austrian Dominic Thiem, who upset defending champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets.