Murray completes perfect return

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Nov 16:31:00 2009

Britain's Andy Murray dismissed unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-2 in the final of the Valencia Open to clinch a sixth title of the year on his return from injury.

Andy Murray celebrates after winning the final match of the ATP Valencia tennis tournament against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia - 0

The 22-year-old world number four, who before this week had not played on the ATP tour since September's US Open due to a wrist problem, was easily able to dictate the rhythm of the match on the hard court in the cathedral-like Agora arena.

Using his sliced backhand to excellent effect, he broke 23rd-ranked Youzhny to love to take a 3-1 lead and served for the opening set at 5-1 before the Russian hit back with a break of his own.

Some accurate serving gave Murray three set points two games later and he converted the second with his sixth ace.

The match followed a similar pattern in the second set, with Murray controlling the pace with ease and Youzhny committing far too many unforced errors.

The Scot went 4-0 ahead with two more breaks of serve and sealed victory with an eighth ace after one hour eight minutes of play.

"I expected a difficult match as he has been playing well recently but I served well and played smart and I'm happy to have won in two sets," Murray said.

He said his back and groin were feeling a bit stiff after Saturday's three-set semi-final against Fernando Verdasco.

"My body is hurting but the whole week was great as I haven't played in a long time," he added.

Murray's next event is the Paris Masters, the final tournament before the season-ending World Tour Finals in London from November 22-29.

Eurosport

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  1. Britwatch: Murray back with bang...,Murray completes­ perfect return...,Murray beats Youzhny to take Valencia­ title...,of course, this is "Murray sport",­ not Eurosport ! ! !

    From Firskkkkk, on Tue 10 Nov 9:52AM
  2. Of course Andy will win GS sooner or later.. he has­ enough quality for it, ...don’t question that people.­ Even that many people can find his game less­ attractive, I could say he is solid as a rock with that­ approach.
    And Of course, I’m looking forward his­ future encounters with Novak.. I think it will be­ different outcome now ;-)
    Definitely both guys now have­ more potential then the rest from top 5.. Del Po also­ grown up pretty fast.. he can be tremendous hitter ,­ but I’m` not sure he is that good tactically, soory !

    From Igor K, on Tue 10 Nov 8:49AM
  3. I-Give-Up-wif-U-Lot, you mention the smaller events, do­ you recall djoker entering belgrade this year, how many­ players inside the top 20 where also there?

    From anthony, on Tue 10 Nov 7:36AM
  4. Roger has mentioned his mono and his back problems.­ Rafa has knee problems and had a problem with his­ stomach. Djokovic has had a few physical problems.­ Roddick and Del Potro have been injured lately. ALL­ players can struggle with injury and they do get ASKED­ about it by the press. There is no reason for them to­ keep quite. If they have a problem then they have a­ problem. End of.

    From ional16, on Mon 9 Nov 11:22PM
  5. I-Give-Up-wif-U-Lot
    I fink Mandy Wurray nil wever win a­ GS, he just does­ not have what it takes I'm­ affraid, he always seams­ to choose to play in the­ smaller events, I think he is­ affraid of RAFFA and­ ROGER, by the end of 2010 Andy­ will be ranked no.6 in­ the world, he will never get to­ number 2 again, that­ was purely on the injeries of the­ others!!

    @­ I-Give-Up-wif-U-Lot
    I really hope your first language­ isn't English. Players are REQUIRED to play in so­ many 250/500 events so it's not that Andy chooses­ to play them. Andy doesn't fear anybody including­ Rafa and Roger. Since you mention injuries - why do you­ think Murray has dropped to number 4? HE has been­ injured or are you choosing to ignore that fact. No­ chance he will be no.6 next year. Now he's back­ from injury he will be moving back up the rankings. ­ You had better get used to it.

    From ional16, on Mon 9 Nov 11:17PM
  6. And I think obviously the rest has actually done him­ good. So many are currently k-nackered, the poor­ blighters. Tough sport. Tough schedule. ­ Tough...except the winnings!

    From wendy, on Mon 9 Nov 11:16PM
  7. Igor - I said something nice about Novak and I'm a­ fan of Andy's! After I saw him playing against Mac­ at the US I saw what a lovely chap he was - and he did­ some 9/11 stuff with some local kids if I remember­ rightly. He's pretty handsome, too. Certainly the­ looker in the sport at the moment in my humble­ opinion!

    And might I say how very sporting of you, my­ man.

    From wendy, on Mon 9 Nov 11:06PM
  8. Oh Arthur you just know I am smiling like the Cheshire­ Cat, don't you! I will bring my photo back when he­ wins his deserved slam.....just hope my photo is still­ a true likeness of me by the time that happens!!!!!!!!

    From wendy, on Mon 9 Nov 11:02PM
  9. I fink Mandy Wurray nil wever win a GS, he just does­ not have what it takes I'm affraid, he always seams­ to choose to play in the smaller events, I think he is­ affraid of RAFFA and ROGER, by the end of 2010 Andy­ will be ranked no.6 in the world, he will never get to­ number 2 again, that was purely on the injeries of the­ others!!

    From Can-U-Shut-up-please!, on Mon 9 Nov 5:40PM
  10. I-Give-Up-Wif-You-Lot,
    I think we all understand that­ you are a complete plonker!
    But please carry on­ posting, it makes eveybody feel so superior.

    From Nicky, on Mon 9 Nov 4:29PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I give up wif u lot!!!!! When will you lot listen, ANDY­ is only capable of handing out the oranges at the­ tennis tournaments of the greats like WIMBLEDON, ROGER­ verses RAFFA!!! Hope you lot understand now!!

    From Can-U-Shut-up-please!, on Mon 9 Nov 4:10PM
  12. GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE CIRCUIT - HOPE ALL THE­ INJURIES ARE TRULY HEALED - GOOD LUCK ANDY & KEEP­ THE WINNING STREAK GOING. xxx

    From DOROTHY, on Mon 9 Nov 12:29PM
  13. Congratulation the six titles in 2009 Andy Murry you­ are deserved after long time injury. and best of luck­ of the rest of the season, and hopefully in 2010 become­ No 1

    From eihabahmed, on Mon 9 Nov 12:15PM
  14. Sue, Andy has just returned from injury of course­ he's going to mention how he's feeling because­ he's going to be asked about it. Andy tends to­ keep problems a secret like when he lost at the oz open­ he kept it quiet that he was ill, he never makes­ excuses when he loses.

    From miffy, on Mon 9 Nov 11:19AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    far from perfect, he has not faced anyone great yet!!!­ like ROGER!

    From Can-U-Shut-up-please!, on Mon 9 Nov 10:53AM
  16. great win andy, great to see you winning again, 6th­ title this year is amazing! good luck for the rest of­ the season and next year.

    From anthony, on Mon 9 Nov 10:27AM
  17. why the worry with murrays phisical problems. so what­ if he mentions it, you try chasing a 100mph tennis ball­ around a court for a couple of hours and see if you­ feel fresh or not?

    From leonamasson, on Mon 9 Nov 10:10AM
  18. Mateja, don't forget to put the light out on your­ way out.

    From Peter, on Mon 9 Nov 9:43AM
  19. SUE. Im sure Andy Murray will take some comfort out of­ the fact that you're so very interested in his­ health and well-being. Presumably you're glad he­ won.

    From Peter, on Mon 9 Nov 8:42AM
  20. Thanks Richard I was hoping they hadn't split up.­ When I said Andy was patting the ball back I meant that­ he was returning the ball half way up the court and­ waiting for his opponent to make mistakes and more­ often than not losing the point when his opponent hit­ the winner when it should have been him. I'm so­ happy that in Valencia he'd stopped doing that and­ was going for his shots and on occasions I was­ absolutely amazed at some of what he was able to do.­ Does anyone know if the BBC are showing the finals from­ the O2?

    From Katy, on Mon 9 Nov 7:38AM
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