World Tour Finals - Murray downs Del Potro
Reuters - Sun, 22 Nov 14:12:00 2009
Andy Murray marked the beginning of London's five-year hosting of the ATP Tour Finals with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in front of 17,500 fans inside the spectacular O2 Arena.
The Briton withstood a ferocious comeback by the Argentine, who lost the opening five games, to open his account in Group A which also contains world number one Roger Federer and Fernando Verdasco.
"He didn't start particularly well but after 5-0 I thought the standard was very good," said Murray, who has won more titles this season than any other player on Tour.
"He's got a big serve, long reach and goes for huge shots. You just have to try and get through it. Tactically I've always been fairly good so I found a way through today."
London's spaceship-like O2 Arena, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, is more used to welcoming the world's greatest pop stars, and there was plenty of razzamatazz and glitz as the $5 million ATP season climax got under way with hardly an empty seat in the house.
Led Zeppelin blared out of the sound system and spotlights punctured the darkened arena as the two gladiators walked out to begin the sixth instalment of what many predict will become one of the fiercest rivalries in men's tennis.
Del Potro, a year younger than the 22-year-old Murray but already one-up on the Scot in the grand slam stakes after his stunning victory over Federer in the Flushing Meadows final in September, carved out a break point in a messy opening game but then fell away alarmingly.
The forehand that battered Federer into submission in New York failed to ignite and a mid-set nosebleed hardly helped his cause as Murray reached set point at 5-0 after 25 minutes.
"I have a big nose, that's the problem," a glum Del Potro said although some of his baseline play from there on should give him confidence that he can still progress.
Things began to change as Del Potro found his timing to claw it back to 3-5 and, although Murray finally clinched the opener on his seventh set point, the tide had turned in the giant South American's favour.
Del Potro broke serve twice in the second set and after softening up Murray with some punishing inside out forehands that Murray could merely slice back defensively he levelled the match with an unstoppable crosscourt effort.
As quickly as it had sparked into life, however, Del Potro's challenge withered and world number four Murray won the third set surprisingly comfortably after breaking in the second game.
"I could win two matches and still not get to the semi-finals," said Murray. "But winning the first one obviously helps a lot."
Group B action opens on Monday when Rafael Nadal, who can still beat Federer to the year-end world number one ranking, faces Swede Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic takes on Nikolay Davydenko.
Related Stories
This site is Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 50 - 69 of 69
Nesreen: because Federer did have to battle. He was not so good at beginning and nearly lost it in 2nd set. He turned tables around in 3rd. Andy on the other hand played well throughout - and had to face some big shots of Delpo once he got going. He was never looking like he was going to lose it though like Federer nearly did. Hope that makes sense. No bias on Eurosport - they are telling it like it was.
Sorry guys ! ! !, but Djokovic is the winner of this tournament ! !, and takes second place in the ATP list ! ! !
YOU REALLY ARE A PRIZE GIMP BRIAN......... HAHAHAHAHA
post 61, murray cant win wimbledon....maybe he can win bowling which dont need
effort. the other guys, federer, nadal, del potro, soderling etc....etc..will wack
the pants off him hahahahahahhaaa.
BEL pa zed
post 61, murray cant win wimbledon....maybe he can win bowling which dont need
effort. the other guys, federer, nadal, del potro, soderling etc....etc..will wack
the pants off him hahahahahahhaaa.
BEL pa zed
I couldn't believe that I read that Federe battled but Murray downed!! Eurosport is not been fair!!
this is @#$% bias.. roger went three sets. murray went three sets but look at the
headlines... eurosport, please three sets is three sets.. both were stretched. and
murray is not a brit.. hes a scot.
BEL pa zed
You British are pathetic (British meaning English and Scottish in this case) What a lot of pig-stupid, petty chauvinistic hot air. What supine brainlessness. It makes me embarrased to use the same language. Neither side can put Murray in its silly little box. Just shut up, you only reveal your own neuroses.
No.44 stevensdoyle...i'm afraid you must be confusing me with someone else, when have I given advice on how Andy should play?! If you could point out this particular post to me I would be very grateful!!!
so,let me get this right,Andy Murray was playing in London,the capital of England, so it was in front of his "home" crowd.The mind boggles.So,no alan g.Murray was not repeat not playing in front of his home crowd or in his home nation,if he was in Edinburgh,the capital of Scotland,then he would be playing in front of his home crowd .Don,t they teach you alan g any logic in England.We realise england does not have a world class tennis player and would like to adopt Murray as their own, because he is British second but Scottish first,but come on don,t try and change the guys nationality.Ask Murray himself, he will put you all right south of the border.. JJ SCOTIAN
To Brian at 52. I think that you will find that Andy Murray is British which covers being a Scot, Welsh, English or from Northern Ireland. No he is not English, but British and we English are very proud if him. He can fly the St Andrews flag or the Union Jack or both. We wish him good luck and surely he has to win Wimbledon can't he?
But Djokovic is still doing great and he is still the world number 2,and mite overtake Nadal soon. Murray is a good player but he needs to put more efforts in grand slams,and the british press are behind his downfall on grand slams,cos they dont let him concetrate,and they make him a winner before the finals,lol
Why are folks worried about the pedigree. JUDGE A MAN ON HIS TALENTS AND ABILITIES. Murray needs to be judged on his Tennis ability and he has loads of it. how does the birth matter for which he has no say!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rationale
why cant people just accept murray is a very good player doing his best. this is a huge tournement and he is doing well so far.
end of story.people who say it only matters in the grand slams are
not real tennis people anyway and i suspect murray couldnt care what you think.
Federer played last nite,but on this report they didnt talk about his match if he won or lost,why is it only Murray that is been talked about on here?? No matter what he isnt goin to win it,Federer,Nadal or Djokovic are the men.Thanks
Del Potro will come back. this happened to Djokovic when he won the Australian Open and then went down after that.
TOTALLY MEANINGLESS, WHEN IT CANT BE DONE IN A MAJOR.
Mandy Wurray I really hope your wish will come true " to win two matches and still not get to the semi-finals" LOL
Well done Andy. Local boy done good. Fantastic performance.
Murray is not british, hes scotish. i thought these were two different nationalities
with one queen, just like australia and newzealand???????
BEL pa zed
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account