Murray thrashes Federer to claim Shanghai crown
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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BRITAIN'S world No. 4 Andy Murray romped to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Switzerland's Roger Federer to claim the Shanghai Rolex Masters title yesterday.
The 23-year-old Scot was in impeccable form throughout the one-hour, 25-minute contest, breaking the third seed's serve four times to dismantle the 16-time grand slam champion and win his second Masters title of the season.
"I have had a great week and played some of my best tennis, which I had to, to beat Roger," Murray said at the trophy presentation of an event where he did not lose a set.
The contest was the third meeting in a final between the pair this season with Murray losing at the Australian Open at the start of the year before gaining some revenge at the Toronto Masters in August.
Yesterday, Murray faced down Federer from the start, breaking serve in the first game and defending six break points with fearsome returns.
"Roger had a couple of chances to get back in the first set with a few big serves on some of them. He had one big chance with a forehand that he missed. Apart from that, it was obviously a great, great match for me," Murray said.
Federer appeared to run out of steam in the second set as Murray repeatedly sent the 29-year-old scurrying from side to side with an array of pinpoint cross-court winners.
"Andy didn't give me many chances to pull off the really big shots today," Federer said.
The win signalled a return to form for Murray after a roller-coaster season during which he sacked his coach.
He complained of illness on his arrival in China two weeks ago and was beaten in the quarterfinal by Ivan Ljubicic at the China Open in Beijing.
Murray also secured qualification for the World Tour Finals in London next month when he will pit his rediscovered confidence against top seed Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Novak Djokovic, Federer and No. 5 Robin Soderling.
Singles winner
In Osaka, Tamarine Tanasugarn beat Kimiko Date Krumm 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in the Japan Women's Open final yesterday, spoiling the 40-year-old Japanese player's bid to become the oldest WTA Tour singles winner.
The 33-year-old Thai broke the sixth-seeded Date Krumm twice in the third set to take control in a match that lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes.
"I tried to be more aggressive in the third set and I finally made it," said Tamarine, who claimed her fourth career title.
Date Krumm, who turned 40 last month, was bidding to become the oldest player to win a WTA singles title. Billie Jean King won in Birmingham in 1983 when she was 39 years, 7 months, 23 days. Date Krumm is already the second oldest player to win a title after her victory in Seoul last year at 38 years and 11 months.
"I just tried my best and fought as hard as I could," she said. "Nobody wants to lose, so I tried everything. Now I'll play some ITF events followed by the Asian Games."
In Linz, Austria, Ana Ivanovic routed Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-2 in the final of the Generali Ladies yesterday to win her first WTA Tour title in two years and ninth overall.
The 22-year-old Serb won her last title at the same event in 2008 after taking the French Open title and becoming the top-ranked player for 12 weeks.
Ivanovic, now ranked No. 29, played her first final in 19 months. Schnyder, who has 11 career titles, was playing her third final in Linz.
The 23-year-old Scot was in impeccable form throughout the one-hour, 25-minute contest, breaking the third seed's serve four times to dismantle the 16-time grand slam champion and win his second Masters title of the season.
"I have had a great week and played some of my best tennis, which I had to, to beat Roger," Murray said at the trophy presentation of an event where he did not lose a set.
The contest was the third meeting in a final between the pair this season with Murray losing at the Australian Open at the start of the year before gaining some revenge at the Toronto Masters in August.
Yesterday, Murray faced down Federer from the start, breaking serve in the first game and defending six break points with fearsome returns.
"Roger had a couple of chances to get back in the first set with a few big serves on some of them. He had one big chance with a forehand that he missed. Apart from that, it was obviously a great, great match for me," Murray said.
Federer appeared to run out of steam in the second set as Murray repeatedly sent the 29-year-old scurrying from side to side with an array of pinpoint cross-court winners.
"Andy didn't give me many chances to pull off the really big shots today," Federer said.
The win signalled a return to form for Murray after a roller-coaster season during which he sacked his coach.
He complained of illness on his arrival in China two weeks ago and was beaten in the quarterfinal by Ivan Ljubicic at the China Open in Beijing.
Murray also secured qualification for the World Tour Finals in London next month when he will pit his rediscovered confidence against top seed Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Novak Djokovic, Federer and No. 5 Robin Soderling.
Singles winner
In Osaka, Tamarine Tanasugarn beat Kimiko Date Krumm 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in the Japan Women's Open final yesterday, spoiling the 40-year-old Japanese player's bid to become the oldest WTA Tour singles winner.
The 33-year-old Thai broke the sixth-seeded Date Krumm twice in the third set to take control in a match that lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes.
"I tried to be more aggressive in the third set and I finally made it," said Tamarine, who claimed her fourth career title.
Date Krumm, who turned 40 last month, was bidding to become the oldest player to win a WTA singles title. Billie Jean King won in Birmingham in 1983 when she was 39 years, 7 months, 23 days. Date Krumm is already the second oldest player to win a title after her victory in Seoul last year at 38 years and 11 months.
"I just tried my best and fought as hard as I could," she said. "Nobody wants to lose, so I tried everything. Now I'll play some ITF events followed by the Asian Games."
In Linz, Austria, Ana Ivanovic routed Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-2 in the final of the Generali Ladies yesterday to win her first WTA Tour title in two years and ninth overall.
The 22-year-old Serb won her last title at the same event in 2008 after taking the French Open title and becoming the top-ranked player for 12 weeks.
Ivanovic, now ranked No. 29, played her first final in 19 months. Schnyder, who has 11 career titles, was playing her third final in Linz.
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