Murray starts year in fine style

Eurosport - Sun, 04 Jan 18:40:00 2009

Britain's Andy Murray defeated world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the final of the Abu Dhabi exhibition to score a crucial blow ahead of the Australian Open.

TENNIS; Andy Murray celebrates winning in Abu Dhabi, Jan 2009 - 0

The world number four had a double reason to celebrate his 2hr 43min win with this three-day event representing the first time he had beaten both Nadal and world number two Roger Federer in the same tournament.

Murray will get the chance to repeat his achievement when he joins Nadal and Federer at the Qatar Open in Doha from Monday, the opening week of the 2009 competitive season.

The Scotsman also picked up the winner-takes-all cheque of 250,000 dollars for his win over Nadal, the reigning French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic champion.

"It is a great start to the year. I worked very hard on my fitness and game in November and December and both Rafa and Roger played great tennis, so I am delighted that I could beat them," said the 21-year-old who had defeated Federer in the semi-finals on Friday.

"Right now, all I can say is that I am feeling very tired. It was a tough match and he made me run a lot. This is just the first week of the year and you do feel it in the body."

Nadal, who missed the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai last year because of a knee injury, was playing his first event in more than two months, and was delighted with his game and health.

"Today was a very good test for the knee. It was a two hour 45 minutes of high-quality, and I'm feeling very well," said the Spaniard who now has a 5-2 record over Murray.

On Murray, Nadal added: "He was very good towards the end of last year, and he is really playing well right now. I think he has got a great chance in Australia. I thought I played very good, but obviously, Andy played a little better."

Murray took the first set after breaking Nadal on his third break point in the third game and, in almost an action-replay of the opener, the Scotsman broke in the fifth game of the second set to go 3-2 up.

But Nadal came back in sensational fashion from 15-40 down in the sixth game and won it on the first break point to even the scores at 3-3. He then took the next service game at love.

He had two set points which he converted immediately to take the second set 7-5.

The first seven games of the final set was tennis of the highest quality from both players. Almost each game went the distance and involved spectacular rallies and amazing shots.

Murray broke in the seventh game, which lasted 14 minutes, on his second break point.

Once Nadal lost that game, Murray quickly closed out the affair by breaking him again in the ninth game.

AFP

Comment 40 - 59 of 99

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  1. Can't believe anyone is criticising Andy's success. This is an outstanding achievement, so lets celebrate it.

    From Lemon, on Sat 3 Jan 10:40PM

  2. Very interesting comment bluenose. Food for thought there. In any case, Andy Murray is a hell of a tennis player. His recent from has been great. Congrats to Rafa too for his typically gracious attitude in defeat. Roll on Doha. The Aussie Open is gonna be amazing I hope. Cheers

    From rhymes450, on Sat 3 Jan 10:05PM

  3. Clearly Andy, even if he is a "sweaty" is playing very well. I like the remarks about the LTA because, quite rightly, the LTA are an absolute disgrace. They blew loads of money on Patric Hagelauer who did nothing for the junior game and after three years walked out. What a poor appointment that really was! I have reams of letters to the LTA with sound ideas on how to use their millions to really support the game, but no initiative is ever forthcoming. As long as the old farts have their tickets for the Opens around the world they seem quite happy.
    Well done Andy's mother and Andy - you really deserve the success. Even if you are a sweaty!

    From nick, on Sat 3 Jan 9:51PM

  4. Clearly Andy, even if he is a "sweaty" is playing very well. I like the remarks about the LTA because, quite rightly, the LTA are an absolute disgrace. They blew loads of money on Patric Haegelauer who did nothing for the junior game. I have reams of letters to the LTA with sound ideas on how to use their millions to really support the game, but no initiative is ever forthcoming. As long as the old farts have their tickets for the Opnes around the world they seem quite happy.
    Well done Andy's mother and Andy - you really deserve the success. Even if you are a sweaty!

    From nick, on Sat 3 Jan 9:46PM

  5. "YOU MAY TAKE OUR LIVES BUT YOU WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM" GO ANDY, DO IT FOR SCOTLAND!!

    From david10m, on Sat 3 Jan 9:44PM

  6. Andy is fully focused on winning and he knows second place isn't good enough. At 21 he's still improving and I fully expect him to break through in slams this year and next and career-wise he should win at least 7 or 8. He's a proud Scot first and British second - nothing wrong with that!

    From Gerry, on Sat 3 Jan 9:33PM

  7. Well done Andy, don't care where you come from, you won.From Squirrel, W Yorks

    From Cath, on Sat 3 Jan 9:31PM

  8. shame people go on about his personality, considering what he went through as a child with the dunblane massacre, must have an effect on the lad.
    and thats how he is such a focused player

    From bluenose, perth, on Sat 3 Jan 9:21PM

  9. To Tonyjcliffe. It is true that Andy is Scottish but I guarantee that when he wins a grand slam he will be British and not Scottish.

    From doctormarzano, on Sat 3 Jan 9:17PM

  10. SO WHAT IF HE IS A SCOT, nothing wrong with being proud of your birth country...and isn't Scotland part of Great Britain/United Kingdom?

    He's won firstly for himself, secondly for Scotland and finally for GB/UK

    BE PROUD ANDY

    From a NON-SCOTSMAN!

    From LEE, on Sat 3 Jan 9:15PM

  11. Not a lot of good things said about Andy Murray,but he has proven that he can beat the very best when they are at their best,he is also still improving and is only 21. last british player to win wimbeldon was fred perry 1932.Andy has no one to thank for his success other than his mum who scrimped and saved to send him abroad at her own expense.Certainly not the LTA as andy does not fit the criteria ie: nice middle class loser bit off a plucky chap.We in Britain can no longer afford to cheer losers 2 nd place is not an option,barring injury Andy Murray will win a grand slam this year and it will have been done off his own back,because regardless at the end of the day it is only him and the man in front off him an therin lies the rub.He will win for himself first family second and country 3rd. Go on Andy

    From john h, on Sat 3 Jan 9:07PM

  12. He's a Scot, so, and I quote "I would support anyone else from anywhere instead of him"

    From tonyjcliffe, on Sat 3 Jan 9:02PM

  13. Margaret Forlow have you recently had a personality bypass operation?

    From Nicholas, on Sat 3 Jan 8:55PM

  14. II agree with the classless personality remark, because he does not set a good example for the up and coming
    young players. His actions at the end of his matches are appaling.

    from; scot exile

    From margaretforlow, on Sat 3 Jan 8:41PM

  15. Way to go Andy. Not too many players beat Federer and Nadal in the same tournament. Good luck for the Austrailian and for the rest of the season and maybe just maybe we'll have a British Champion at Wimbledon this year.

    From JOHN, on Sat 3 Jan 8:41PM

  16. In this case, tennis is the winner!

    From roy d, on Sat 3 Jan 8:23PM

  17. Murray played very well to day and deserved a victory over Nadal. But Nadal is still improving his game on hard court. On grass and clay, i think that Nadal is very much better than Murray. And soon Nadal will beat Murray on hard court to.

    From rode.kurt, on Sat 3 Jan 8:06PM

  18. Murray played very well to day and deserved a victory over Nadal. But Nadal is still improving his game on hard court. On grass and clay, i think that Nadal is very much better than Murray. And soon Nadal will beat Murray on hard court to.

    From rode.kurt, on Sat 3 Jan 8:03PM

  19. Post37
    Disagree If he has won the last six against the top three what catching up has he got to do?

    From Nicholas, on Sat 3 Jan 7:58PM

  20. The match was great and both played well, but Andy a little bit better, it seams.
    But I am a Rafa fan, so good luck Nadal in 2009.

    From imola, on Sat 3 Jan 7:49PM
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