Andy Murray Defeated Roger Federer in Abu Dhabi Exhibition

(This entry was originally published on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009)

British tennis star Andy Murray started the New Year with an excellent three-set victory over world. No. 2 Roger Federer in the semi final of an exhibition tournament, Capitala World Tennis Championship at Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. Andy Murray defeated US. Open champion Federer 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6). Both players broke each other once in the first set, but Roger Federer took it 4-6. In the second set, Murray dominated over Federer and broke him early to clinch the second set 6-2 pretty easily. The third set was a close one which Murray won in a tie-breaker.

Federer defeated Murray in the final of U.S. Open 2008, but lost to the aspiring British tennis star at the Madrid Masters tournament in October. A month later, Federer lost to Murray once again at the Shanghai Masters Cup. Now, Andy Murray would face world no. 1 Rafael Nadal in the tournament final as the Spaniard defeated Nikolay Davydenko in the other final of the tournament.

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Andy Murray: I am Much Closer to Win a Grand Slam Now than I was

(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)

British tennis star Andy Murray wants to become the first British to win a grand slam title in 72 years since Fred Perry won a grand slam in 1936. Andy Murray enjoyed the most successful season in his career in 2008, reaching the US Open final, his first grand slam final, and winning the ATP Masters tiles in Cincinnati and Madrid. Starting the year at no. 11, Murray is finishing the year at no. 4 in ATP ranking. Andy Murray now thinks that he is now much closer to winning a grand slam ever.

Thescotsman reported:

“I feel like I’m much closer to winning a grand slam now than I was,” said Murray. “I always dreamt of winning one, but you don’t believe it until you get very close, like I did in the US Open.”

“That gave me the confidence to go on the run that I have,” he said. “It’s made me much more motivated to work hard this off-season to give me the best chance of doing it next year. I think it’s do-able, but it’s going to be very hard – there’s no getting away from that – but I think that I’ve got a chance of doing it. I’ll be giving it my best shot.”

Andy Murray is just 21 and has a number of years in his career. He is full of talent and has the ability to win the much-awaited grand slam title in the years to come. The important thing is that he is improving gradually and getting matured as a player day by day. In fact, I would not be surprised to see Andy Murray winning his first grand slam title in 2009.

Greg Rusedski: Andy Murray can Win Grand Slam Title

Former British tennis player Greg Rusedski has said that Andy Murray has the ability to become first British to win a grand slam title in 70 years. It has been 70 years since Fred Perry last won a grand slam tournament for Britain. Now, Greg Rusedski sees ray of hope in Andy Murray who reached the final of US Open 2008, but lost to Roger Federer. Greg Rusedski was the last Briton to reach a grand slam final in 1997 before Murray reaching US Open final this year. 21-year-old Murray has all the possibility to put an end to Britain’s long-lasting hope of seeing a grand slam winner.

Sky Sports reported:

“I’ve always thought that Andy would be better than Tim Henman and myself and, if you look at his results, he is already miles ahead of where we were at his age,” Rusedski told The Mail on Sunday.

“I really believe Andy has a legitimate chance to win any of the four majors. Every time he enters a major championship, you think he can win it.

“That is an extraordinary change in the mindset in British tennis.”

Murray has several successes this year on the court including the title of year-ending Masters Cup tournament. Andy Murray started the year at 11 and is now enjoying his career-high ranking at 4. No doubt, Andy Murray will look to get more success and improve in ranking. However, the one and only target that he will cherish for is nothing but winning a grand slam title in what he will turn into a mega star in Britain. Now, let us see if Andy Murray can really win a grand slam title.

(This entry was originally posted in this blog on Monday, December 1st, 2008 and the information is based on that time.)

Andy Murray: The New Power of Men’s Tennis

Andy Murray is perhaps the one of the most-talked about characters of 2008 in men’s tennis. The Briton has spent a very successful year in which he achieved his career high ranking 4^th in the ATP ranking and became the first British male player to have reached a grand slam final since Greg Rusedski reached the 1997 US Open final. Though Murray could not defeat Roger Federer in the US Open 2008 final to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry winning a grand slam in 1936, his excellent run throughout the season was enough to show his potential, skill and quality as a player.

Telegraph reported:

And it should be remembered for his achievement of gathering five titles into his racket-bag, which was the biggest collection in a season by any British man since tennis turned professional. Murray, just 21 years old, has completed a more impressive season than Rusedski or Tim Henman ever managed.

Murray has won 5 ATP title this year and he seems to be the new power of men’s tennis alongside Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. In fact, his 4^th position in the ranking has been highest achieved by a British man so far in the history of Tennis. Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer on 3 occasions in 2008, while he knocked out Rafael Nadal at the semi final of US Open 2008, but could not yet pull off a victory against Novak Djokovic. Next year will be the 100^th birth anniversary for Fred Perry, the last British male player who won a grand slam, and many expect Andy Murray to mark the occasion by winning a grand slam title which has become a national hope in Britain.

Andy Murray: The New Power of Men’s Tennis

Andy Murray is perhaps the one of the most-talked about characters of 2008 in men’s tennis. The Briton has spent a very successful year in which he achieved his career high ranking 4^th in the ATP ranking and became the first British male player to have reached a grand slam final since Greg Rusedski reached the 1997 US Open final. Though Murray could not defeat Roger Federer in the US Open 2008 final to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry winning a grand slam in 1936, his excellent run throughout the season was enough to show his potential, skill and quality as a player.

Telegraph reported:

And it should be remembered for his achievement of gathering five titles into his racket-bag, which was the biggest collection in a season by any British man since tennis turned professional. Murray, just 21 years old, has completed a more impressive season than Rusedski or Tim Henman ever managed. Outside the Premiership, Beckham Towers in LA, and a Formula One car,

Murray has won 5 ATP title this year and he seems to be the new power of men’s tennis alongside Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. In fact, his 4^th position in the ranking has been highest achieved by a British man so far in the history of Tennis. Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer on 3 occasions in 2008, while he knocked out Rafael Nadal at the semi final of US Open 2008, but could not yet pull off a victory against Novak Djokovic. Next year will be the 100^th birth anniversary for Fred Perry, the last British male player who won a grand slam, and many expect Andy Murray to mark the occasion by winning a grand slam title which has become a national hope in Britain.

Novak Djokovic Eyeing on the Top Spot of ATP Ranking

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic finished the year winning the year-ending tournament Masters Cup in Shanghai recently. Djokovic leads the rise of Serbian tennis in men’s division, while fellow Serbian Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic are doing the same in female tennis. Djokovic currently stands third in the ATP ranking after Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, but the way he is progressing, it is pretty much clear that he will take a stern test of Nadal and Federer next year.

In fact, he has already set his eyes on the top spot in the ranking, claiming that he wants to reach atop the ranking within next couple of years. After winning his first grand slam tournament in Australian Open 2008, he continued his excellent form on the court almost throughout the season winning four other titles. There are many including his coach Marian Vajda who thinks Djokovic has all the qualities to become no. 1 in men’s tennis.

Blic reported:

“Novak began the year in style and finished it the same way. I seems to me he performed the same way at both the first tournament of 2008 – the Australian Open – and the last one in Shanghai. In order to stay on top, you need to play at your best at big events. Djokovic can certainly reach the number one position, but judging from this season, Nadal is deservedly at the top. A number of other players with same ambitions have emerged, such as Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but Novak widened the gap on those two towards the end of the season, which is a sound basis for the start of the next season,” says Vajda.

British star Andy Murray also indicated his rise in world tennis this year. Now, the likes of Djokovic and Murray are considered to be biggest threats for Nadal and Federer in 2009. With Nadal falling in an injury and Federer struggling to maintain consistency on the court, it is pretty much clear that Murray and Djokovic have realistic chance to shot at the top spot in the ranking.

Andy Murray: The New Power of Men’s Tennis

Andy Murray is perhaps the one of the most-talked about characters of 2008 in men’s tennis. The Briton has spent a very successful year in which he achieved his career high ranking 4^th in the ATP ranking and became the first British male player to have reached a grand slam final since Greg Rusedski reached the 1997 US Open final. Though Murray could not defeat Roger Federer in the US Open 2008 final to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry winning a grand slam in 1936, his excellent run throughout the season was enough to show his potential, skill and quality as a player.

Telegraph reported:

And it should be remembered for his achievement of gathering five titles into his racket-bag, which was the biggest collection in a season by any British man since tennis turned professional. Murray, just 21 years old, has completed a more impressive season than Rusedski or Tim Henman ever managed. Outside the Premiership, Beckham Towers in LA, and a Formula One car,

Murray has won 5 ATP title this year and he seems to be the new power of men’s tennis alongside Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. In fact, his 4^th position in the ranking has been highest achieved by a British man so far in the history of Tennis. Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer on 3 occasions in 2008, while he knocked out Rafael Nadal at the semi final of US Open 2008, but could not yet pull off a victory against Novak Djokovic. Next year will be the 100^th birth anniversary for Fred Perry, the last British male player who won a grand slam, and many expect Andy Murray to mark the occasion by winning a grand slam title which has become a national hope in Britain.

Andy Murray Wants to Continue his Excellent Form of 2008

Andy Murray has said that he wants to build on the success he received in tennis circuit this year. The current world no. 4 Murray has perhaps seen his best ever year in 2008 after turning professional in 2005. Murray started the year at 11th and has won 5 ATP titles including 2 Masters Series. He also played his first grand slam this year in US Open 2008. However, Murray failed to finish the year with a title as he was crushed out of year-ending Masters Cup recently, being defeated by Nikolay Davydenko in the semi final. However, Murray defeated Andy Roddick, Gilles Simon and defending champion as well as world no. 2 Roger Federer in the earlier rounds of the tournament. Andy Murray has defeated Federer on three occasions this year.

Walesonline reported:

“The year as a whole has been awesome. At the end of last year, if someone would have told me I was going to be No 4 in the world, won the matches I have done, reach my first slam final and beat Federer three times, I would have taken that. I would have signed up for this year,” he said.

“I hope I can build on it next year. I’ll take a little bit of time off now, work as hard as possible to get ready for the beginning of next season, try and put on a little bit more weight, try and get physically stronger and see what happens.”

With Murray’s emergence as a new power of men’s tennis, the hope of British people to see another world class player from Britain now seems to have come to an end. For many years, there was no big star in Britain. Now, let us see if Andy Murray can successfully carry out the hopes of British tennis fans from now.