ATP Tour - Murray downs Nadal for Rotterdam title

Eurosport - Mon, 16 Feb 23:02:00 2009

Briton Andy Murray upset world number one Rafael Nadal 6-3 4-6 6-0 in a disappointing World Indoor Tournament final in Rotterdam marred by injuries.

TENNIS 2009 - Andy Murray of Britain and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose with their trophies after Murray won the final of the World Indoor Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam - 0

Murray was less troubled by his ankle problem than Nadal was by his right knee problem after he had a medical time-out three games into the second set.

Both players then dropped serve four times in a row, handing the set to Nadal who could not put any power into his service but refused to give up.

"Thought the first set was very good, I played well and saw nothing on Nadal's movement" Murray said.

"But after his time out he wasn't running anymore and just hitting the ball hard from the baseline."

"It was disappointing as it wasn't particular entertaining at the end."

Murray, the world number four, knew he needed to play his best tennis to beat Nadal, but neither player reached the high standard they achieved in earlier rounds.

"After the first set and Nadal's problem I really struggled with my service game and got a bit nervous," Murray said.

Murray became the first Briton to win the tournament in Rotterdam. Tim Henman lost three finals in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Nadal refused to blame his injury for his second successive loss to Murray after last year's US Open semi-final.

"Murray just played better today," Nadal said. "I tried but couldn't give anything more in the third set."

"I don't think that this injury will be a serious problem, for sure it is not the same as last year."

"It was an option not to finish the match, but that is not a good way to finish a final, not for me not for Andy and not for the crowd."

Nadal said he did not sustain the injury during the final but that it had got worse during the week.

"I will have a week now before I play Dubai and don't expect a problem so after all I had a great week in a strong tournament, with a spot in the final after good matches against Bolelli and Tsonga," Nadal said.

Reuters

Comment 105 - 124 of 184

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. S G you are a total waste of space, murray has done­ more in a couple of years than what british tenmnis­ players have done in a long time. Your taking the utter­ @#$% out of scottish people when there is no need

    From stefan, on Sun 15 Feb 7:46PM

  2. MURRAY?HATED YESTERDAY,WORSHIPPED TODAY,pfff,that's­ definitely the same in any country...Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Sun 15 Feb 7:46PM

  3. when is everyone going to stop moaning about andy­ murray, hes british ,and accept the fact that he is our­ best chance of winning an open, something henman and­ rudseski were never going to do

    From kev, on Sun 15 Feb 7:43PM

  4. I like Msg 121 - so true but mark my words, the more­ " meaningless tournaments" Murray wins the­ greater his experience, confidence and mindset grows to­ eventually challenge for the BIG Grand Slam­ tournaments...and why don't you guys shut-down this­ whole Scots, English etc nonsense....Murray has the­ potential to be a U.K. World Champion and his 1st Grand­ Slam will be in 2009.

    From Big "H", on Sun 15 Feb 7:32PM

  5. About as funny as a wet fart SG

    From KYLE, on Sun 15 Feb 7:27PM

  6. sg is a @#$%

    From KYLE, on Sun 15 Feb 7:25PM

  7. 122 & 123 ...is that Murray in New Blue Hoodie­ ?...122 ..I think you mean 'Tennants' not­ Stella...bi bi.....

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 7:23PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    thanks to all...great fun all this comment rubbish..bi­ bi

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 7:15PM

  9. Scotland is a country ya tit

    From budgie66, on Sun 15 Feb 7:14PM

  10. I like 117 - no such nationality as English,Scotish or­ Welsh - our collective nationality is British­ ....English etc is country of residence. Also Nadal is­ a man and acts accordingly - today two MEN on the court­ and gracious in winning/losing.Long may they remain­ sporting enemies/personal pals.Come back Tim - you were­ another one.
    I am Scottish and supported Tim with­ exactly the same passion.Go away bigots - have another­ pint of Stella!!!

    From Ploderan, on Sun 15 Feb 7:14PM

  11. Does ANYONE notice federer and nadal use these­ meaningless tournaments for warm ups. They are leaving­ these scraps for all the others and the MAJORS for­ themselves.

    From MAUREEN, on Sun 15 Feb 7:12PM

  12. 114...'foreigners takes all your jobs'..thats­ classic, this policy was introduced by B'liar(Scot)­ and Brown , and because of these 2 morons..they are not­ 'foreign' but 'EU'....and you think­ they are not taking jobs in Scotland ?...think­ again.....

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 7:06PM

  13. English and scottish people, how pathetic you are. the­ boy has beaten Nadal (not for the first time) and won­ ATP tournament (not the first time) and what we get­ here? english and scottish people fighting. So­ pathetic. Don't ruin the boy's career. He's­ british as long as scotland is not a country.

    From guy, on Sun 15 Feb 7:04PM

  14. 107 , if you had half a brain cell you would realize­ '2 eyed' was reference to Clarksons 'One­ Eyed' comment...

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 6:58PM

  15. Shame the game ended like it did. Reading some of the­ comments wether or not Murray is Scottich he still­ plays for GBR. I am English, Irrelevant of what­ Nationality a person is, Credit it deserved when he or­ she wins. Under the circumstances with Rafa being­ Injured he was unable to play to his own standard. I­ hope he gets well soon. Another thing is, Some comments­ are totally uncalled for, Tha language - the abuse.­ When 1 player is playing badly it often has an effect­ on the person at the other side of the net. Not easy to­ concentrate, The breaks of serve in the second set­ displayed that. Well done andy on another tny win. Get­ well soon Rafa.

    From Austin H, on Sun 15 Feb 6:58PM

  16. ALL , Look on the bright side , Murrayonly f**ked­ Nadal , Gordon Brown has f**ked the whole of the UK....

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 6:55PM

  17. Lay off Roger - Mummsy has written to that nasty­ Spanish man who took his title away and made him cry.­ He is getting better now having had a new teddy and­ lots of hot drinks and early bed. Mummsy now lets him ­ stay up late to watch Ceebeebies to help him forget. He­ is looking forward to the annual blubberfest with Gazza­ and John Terry and they are going to cry and cry!!!Andy­ - don't ever reduce yourself to that level -­ you're a Scot like all the other world­ champions....racing,squash,boxing.....and a man.

    From Ploderan, on Sun 15 Feb 6:55PM

  18. comment 82, what did Murray do to get any negative­ comments? The other boys dished up the excuses by the­ sounds of it. No wonder all the foreigners takes all­ your jobs. Because there is not much happening between­ your ears.

    From mielies1, on Sun 15 Feb 6:55PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    106, its nothing to do with Eng/Scot rivalry...murray­ really is a completely boring wally !! anyone can see­ that! & a good tennis player....

    From SD, on Sun 15 Feb 6:54PM

  20. Well done Andy...you know you have the skill and­ physical to beat champions !
    All you need now is to­ streamline the psychology of beating champions in Grand­ Slam Tournaments !

    From Big "H", on Sun 15 Feb 6:53PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account