Murray hitting grand slam stride
Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:44
Murray enjoyed a fantastic week in Montreal, winning the Rogers Cup with a come-from-behind victory over Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday’s final while also overtaking Rafael Nadal to become world number two. The 22-year-old Scot won in Cincinnati last year en route to his best performance in a Grand Slam event to date, reaching the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows only to lose to world number one Roger Federer.
“I feel like I’ve got a good chance of doing well at the US Open, but each week is a different week, and I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself. I’ll just focus on Cincinnati,” Murray told the ATP website.
A repeat victory this week in Ohio would tee Murray up beautifully for New York, and with Nadal still regaining fitness following a knee injury, he knows he will be among the favourites to win his first major title.
Murray considered breaking the duopoly of Federer and Nadal a bigger achievement than winning in Montreal, though he clearly enjoyed his success in Canada.
“I’ve won a couple of Masters now, so it still feels great, but the number two – maybe because it’s something different – that means maybe a little bit more, but winning a tournament here is still great,” he added.
Murray fought back brilliantly to beat big-hitting Argentinian Del Potro. The Scot looked set for defeat after Del Potro took the first set, the first Murray had lost all week.
Del Potro continued to look formidable, and his heavy forehands were proving devastating, but his level dropped once Murray won the second set tie-break, and the man from Dunblane completed a 6-7 (7/4) 7-6 (7/3) 6-1 victory.
“He was just making it really tough because of the way that he was playing and serving, and he was always giving himself a chance,” said Murray. “I had to keep fighting and believing in myself, and that was enough in the end.”
Del Potro added: “I have never played a final in the Masters series, and the crowd and this tournament and everything, it’s so good for me and for my future. I’m very happy to be in the final. I lost, but I’m happy. I don’t have to think in the past and now see the future.”
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