Nadal blitzed in Japan as Murray celebrates second successive title
BRITISH No1 Andy Murray hailed yesterday’s victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Japan Open as one of his best ever displays.
Murray, beaten by the Spaniard in two grand slam semi-finals this season, gained some measure of revenge with a mightily impressive 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory.
Murray (right), who won the previous week’s tournament in Thailand, looked to be heading for defeat before blasting six aces and breaking Nadal twice to level the match, and then went up another gear to win a third set in which he afforded his opponent just four points.
“I played some great tennis and the third set was some of the best I’ve played against him,” said Murray, who emerged an hour later to claim the doubles title alongside his brother Jamie with a 6-1, 6-4 thrashing of Frantisek Cermak and Filip Polasek.
“There were a lot of close games in the second set but I managed to get the momentum and didn’t give him many chances after that.”