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Murray on high after dumping Nadal
Source: Agencies |
January 5, 2009, Monday
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IN a strong statement leading to the Australian Open, Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on consecutive days.
The Scotsman defeated the top-ranked Nadal 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday to capture the Capitala World Tennis Championship exhibition and US$250,000 winner-take-all prize. A day earlier in the semifinals, he topped the No. 2-ranked Federer 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).
The tournament, not part of the ATP Tour, included six of the world's top 10 players.
Murray, who put on more muscle during the offseason, is ranked No. 4 and has yet to win a Grand Slam. He has a chance to change that at the Australian Open, which starts on January 19.
"This victory was good before I go to Australia," said Murray, who will first defend his Qatar Open title in Doha. "I have never been past the fourth round there. I trained hard over the break and the victories over the past three days have given me confidence."
In the final set, Murray broke after a long seventh game and then held serve to go up 5-3. Murray covered the court well, running down every shot.
"He has carried his form over the last four months and he has a good chance to win in Australia," Nadal said.
Murray's only previous victory over Nadal in six matches was at the US Open semifinals in September. The Spaniard played 111 matches in 2008 and pulled out of the Davis Cup final against Argentina in November because of an injured knee.
Nadal called this an "amazing three days" and insisted he played well despite the loss.
"For me it was a very good test," he said. "Playing 2 hours, 45 minutes at the best level is good. I forgot about my knee and my injury. I am looking forward to the year."
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Australia, seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet of France recovered to beat countryman Marc Gicquel 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 yesterday in the first round of the Brisbane International tennis tournament.
The joint ATP-WTA tournament is being played for the first time at the new Queensland Tennis Center.
In other men's matches, American Taylor Dent beat Steve Darcis of Belgium 7-6 (0), 6-2 and will play Gasquet in the second round.
Ivanovic on tap
Two other Americans failed to advance. Fourth-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-3 and Julien Benneteau of France downed Robby Ginepri 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to a second-rounder against Soderling.
Among first-round women's matches, second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-0, 6-2 and third-seeded Marion Bartoli of France beat Australian Monika Wejnert 6-1, 6-2. Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia beat China's Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2.
Seventh-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia withdrew due to an unspecified illness. She was scheduled to play Samantha Stosur of Australia in the first official center court match at the 5,500-seat Pat Rafter Arena.
Hometown favorite Stosur will now play Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama.
Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic plays her first-round match tonight against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic while men's top seed and Ivanovic's Serb compatriot Novak Djokovic, the defending Australian Open champion, plays his first match tomorrow against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.
Djokovic, 21, said yesterday that he spent 10 days in the Serbian mountains and two weeks preparing on court in Monaco to get ready for his Melbourne title defense.
Djokovic could move ahead of Roger Federer and into the No. 2 spot in the rankings, behind Rafael Nadal, if he wins in Brisbane. His biggest threat comes from second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
The Scotsman defeated the top-ranked Nadal 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday to capture the Capitala World Tennis Championship exhibition and US$250,000 winner-take-all prize. A day earlier in the semifinals, he topped the No. 2-ranked Federer 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).
The tournament, not part of the ATP Tour, included six of the world's top 10 players.
Murray, who put on more muscle during the offseason, is ranked No. 4 and has yet to win a Grand Slam. He has a chance to change that at the Australian Open, which starts on January 19.
"This victory was good before I go to Australia," said Murray, who will first defend his Qatar Open title in Doha. "I have never been past the fourth round there. I trained hard over the break and the victories over the past three days have given me confidence."
In the final set, Murray broke after a long seventh game and then held serve to go up 5-3. Murray covered the court well, running down every shot.
"He has carried his form over the last four months and he has a good chance to win in Australia," Nadal said.
Murray's only previous victory over Nadal in six matches was at the US Open semifinals in September. The Spaniard played 111 matches in 2008 and pulled out of the Davis Cup final against Argentina in November because of an injured knee.
Nadal called this an "amazing three days" and insisted he played well despite the loss.
"For me it was a very good test," he said. "Playing 2 hours, 45 minutes at the best level is good. I forgot about my knee and my injury. I am looking forward to the year."
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Australia, seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet of France recovered to beat countryman Marc Gicquel 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 yesterday in the first round of the Brisbane International tennis tournament.
The joint ATP-WTA tournament is being played for the first time at the new Queensland Tennis Center.
In other men's matches, American Taylor Dent beat Steve Darcis of Belgium 7-6 (0), 6-2 and will play Gasquet in the second round.
Ivanovic on tap
Two other Americans failed to advance. Fourth-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-3 and Julien Benneteau of France downed Robby Ginepri 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to a second-rounder against Soderling.
Among first-round women's matches, second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-0, 6-2 and third-seeded Marion Bartoli of France beat Australian Monika Wejnert 6-1, 6-2. Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia beat China's Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2.
Seventh-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia withdrew due to an unspecified illness. She was scheduled to play Samantha Stosur of Australia in the first official center court match at the 5,500-seat Pat Rafter Arena.
Hometown favorite Stosur will now play Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama.
Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic plays her first-round match tonight against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic while men's top seed and Ivanovic's Serb compatriot Novak Djokovic, the defending Australian Open champion, plays his first match tomorrow against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.
Djokovic, 21, said yesterday that he spent 10 days in the Serbian mountains and two weeks preparing on court in Monaco to get ready for his Melbourne title defense.
Djokovic could move ahead of Roger Federer and into the No. 2 spot in the rankings, behind Rafael Nadal, if he wins in Brisbane. His biggest threat comes from second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
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