New world No. 2 Murray sets up Del Potro final
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2009, Monday
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ANDY Murray took the world No. 2 ranking from Rafael Nadal on Saturday by beating Jo Wilfried-Tsonga 6-4, 7-6 (8) to book a final clash with the in-form Juan Martin Del Potro at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.
Playing his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semifinals, the 22-year-old Scotsman has barely put a foot wrong in Montreal, advancing to his sixth final of the season without dropping a set.
Murray will have his hands full against Del Potro, however, the Argentine entering his first Masters Series final on the back of a 10-match winning streak after coming from behind to vanquish fifth-seeded American Andy Roddick 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Murray's win over Frenchman Tsonga made him the highest-ranked British man since ATP rankings began in 1973, and also broke the duopoly Spain's Nadal and Swiss rival Roger Federer have held over the top two spots since July 2005.
"For five years it's been Rafa and Roger one and two," Murray told reporters. "So it's such a tough thing to do because Roger and Rafa are, I think, the two best maybe of all time. So it's pretty special to get in between them."
In Mason, Ohio, world No. 1 Dinara Safina will take on a rejuvenated Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Cincinnati Open after hugely contrasting wins on Saturday.
Russian Safina stormed into her eighth final of the year with a 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Italian Flavia Pennetta, while fifth seed Jankovic of Serbia saved four match points to beat fourth seed Elena Dementieva 7-6 (2), 0-6, 7-6 (6) after two hours and 46 minutes.
Safina was at her powerful best as she ended Pennetta's 15-match winning streak in just 55 minutes.
"Every match I have been feeling better," Safina said. "Today, stepping on the court, I was feeling very good and confident."
The 23-year-old Russian is wrapping up her 17th straight week at No. 1. Since May 2008, she has reached the finals in 14 of her 25 events, winning seven.
Jankovic blew three match points in the third set, setting up the tiebreaker, then fell behind 2-6 before pulling it out. There were 13 service breaks and 25 double faults in the match.
Russian Dementieva had eight double faults in the first set. She got her serve under control and dominated the second set, only to relapse. She was broken twice in the third set on double faults.
Playing his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semifinals, the 22-year-old Scotsman has barely put a foot wrong in Montreal, advancing to his sixth final of the season without dropping a set.
Murray will have his hands full against Del Potro, however, the Argentine entering his first Masters Series final on the back of a 10-match winning streak after coming from behind to vanquish fifth-seeded American Andy Roddick 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Murray's win over Frenchman Tsonga made him the highest-ranked British man since ATP rankings began in 1973, and also broke the duopoly Spain's Nadal and Swiss rival Roger Federer have held over the top two spots since July 2005.
"For five years it's been Rafa and Roger one and two," Murray told reporters. "So it's such a tough thing to do because Roger and Rafa are, I think, the two best maybe of all time. So it's pretty special to get in between them."
In Mason, Ohio, world No. 1 Dinara Safina will take on a rejuvenated Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Cincinnati Open after hugely contrasting wins on Saturday.
Russian Safina stormed into her eighth final of the year with a 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Italian Flavia Pennetta, while fifth seed Jankovic of Serbia saved four match points to beat fourth seed Elena Dementieva 7-6 (2), 0-6, 7-6 (6) after two hours and 46 minutes.
Safina was at her powerful best as she ended Pennetta's 15-match winning streak in just 55 minutes.
"Every match I have been feeling better," Safina said. "Today, stepping on the court, I was feeling very good and confident."
The 23-year-old Russian is wrapping up her 17th straight week at No. 1. Since May 2008, she has reached the finals in 14 of her 25 events, winning seven.
Jankovic blew three match points in the third set, setting up the tiebreaker, then fell behind 2-6 before pulling it out. There were 13 service breaks and 25 double faults in the match.
Russian Dementieva had eight double faults in the first set. She got her serve under control and dominated the second set, only to relapse. She was broken twice in the third set on double faults.
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