Top

Murray predicts tough match


 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:07

Defending champion Murray breezed into the final on Saturday with a 6-0 6-3 victory over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. The semi-final clash was a repeat of last year’s final, in which the Scot was victorious, and came less than a week after Murray won the Madrid Masters.

And the 21-year-old Britain said: “I was feeling very comfortable throughout the match as he (Verdasco) looked weaker than me.”

He added: “I played Golubev several times when we were younger. He is a tough opponent and I expect a tough match.”

After a testing quarter-final against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic Murray showed no signs of fatigue as he easily took the first set 6-0.

Having held serve in the first game of the second set Murray broke world number 16 Verdasco to immediately seize the advantage.

He saved a break point and was set to cruise into a 3-0 lead only for Verdasco to dig deep to break him and win his first game before holding to level at 2-2.

The set continued with serve until the eighth game. Unforced errors and double faults were undermining Verdasco’s fightback and a careless shot on break point allowed Murray to take a 5-3 lead.

And after two match points the Scot wrapped up victory in one hour and 14 minutes, setting up a meeting with Golubev in the final.

Murray is bidding to win his fifth title of the year, having also reached the US Open final and having secured his place in the end-of-year Masters Cup.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.