Murray beats Simon in Madrid
Andrew Murray
World No. 4 Andy Murray (pictured) claimed his second successive ATP Masters Series shield by halting marathon man Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6(6) in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid on Sunday.
The Scot was competing in his third final in four events, having captured his first ATP Masters Series crown at Cincinnati (d. Djokovic) and reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open (d. Nadal; l. to Federer). He is already assured of his place at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai for the first time, currently No. 4 in the ATP 2008 Race.
This week has also seen Simon build a strong case for his place at the season-ending finale. The 23-year-old Nice native came into Madrid at No. 12 in ATP 2008 Race. He will now move to No. 9 in the ATP 2008 Race, within six points of No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro, and become the No. 1 Frenchman.
Madrid Photo Gallery
Dunblane native Murray becomes the first British player to win two ATP Masters Series titles, as Tim Henman (2003 Paris) and Greg Rusedski (1998 Paris) both won one each. The right-hander is also the first player to win back-to-back titles at ATP Masters Series Cincinnati and Madrid (since 2002).
Murray now joins an exclusive list of players to have won at least two ATP Masters Series titles in a season over the past five years:
2008 — Rafael Nadal 3, Novak Djokovic 2,
2007 — Rafael Nadal 3, Novak Djokovic 2, Roger Federer 2, David Nalbandian 2
2006 — Roger Federer 4, Rafael Nadal 2
2005 — Roger Federer 4, Rafael Nadal 4
2004 — Roger Federer 3, Marat Safin 2
It is the Scot’s seventh overall ATP title and fourth of the season. Murray, who also triumphed at Doha (d. Wawrinka), Marseille (d. Ancic) and Cincinnati, becomes just the third player this season together with Juan Martin del Potro (4) and Rafael Nadal (8) to win four ATP titles. He is the first British player to win four titles in a season, eclipsing Mark Cox who captured three in 1975.
Categories: Sport Tags: Andrew Murray, Bouches-du-Rhône, Cincinnati, David Nalbandian, Doha, Gilles Simon, Greg Rusedski, Île-de-France, Juan Martin del Potro, Madrid, Madrid Photo Gallery, Marat Safin, Mark Cox, Marseille, Paris, Qatar, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sport, tennis, Tim Henman, US Open
Murray to face Simon in Madrid Final
Andrew Murray
World No. 4 Andy Murray (pictured) reached his second straight ATP Masters Series final with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over No. 2 Roger Federer at the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid.
The 21 year old won his first ATP Masters Series title in his first final in August at Cincinnati with victory over Novak Djokovic, and followed with an appearance in his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open, where he lost out to Federer in straight sets.
In the final he will face Frenchman Gilles Simon who produced an exhilarating 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) victory over World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. Match Report
“He’s a very different player, he plays a long way behind the baseline, doesn´t have a whole lot of power, he has got a lot of confidence just now,” assessed Murray. “He doesn’t make many mistakes and he’s in very good shape, he’s quick around the court, has great anticipation and fights for every point which, because of his game style, he needs to. He does that very well and his results this week have proved that.”
Murray vs. Simon: Head-to-Head
On Saturday, the Dunblane native produced a fine serving display to avenge his Flushing Meadows loss to Federer, firing 14 aces and surrendering just eight points on first serve throughout the 1 hr., 56 min., encounter.
Too many errors proved costly for the Scot early on of his fifth meeting with Federer (Murray leads 3-2) and the Swiss capitalized to break serve in the sixth game and go on to close out the opening set.
Categories: Sport Tags: Andrew Murray, Andy Murray, Cincinnati, Gilles Simon, Sport, US Open