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Andy Murray Wins Valencia Open

Briton Andy Murray won his sixth title of the year and the 14th of his career with a comprehensive victory over Mikhail Youzhny at the inaugural Valencia Open on Sunday afternoon. The world No 4,

PTI Published : Nov 08, 2009 22:41 IST, Updated : Nov 08, 2009 22:53 IST
andy murray wins valencia open
andy murray wins valencia open

Briton Andy Murray won his sixth title of the year and the 14th of his career with a comprehensive victory over Mikhail Youzhny at the inaugural Valencia Open on Sunday afternoon.

The world No 4, playing in his first tournament for nearly two months after recovering from a wrist injury, looked impressive throughout in a 6-3 6-2 win over the Russian.

Murray, whose last title came at the Masters event in Canada in August, can now celebrate winning half a dozen titles in one season for the first time in his career.

The pair had met only once before, in St Petersburg in 2007, with Murray winning in three sets before going on to take the title.

Youzhny is unpredictable and, although his impressive single-handed backhand was in evidence in the early stages, he came unstuck in the fourth game as Murray gained an early break.

The Scot withstood a barrage of power from Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Saturday before coming through in three sets and looked more comfortable on Sunday, cementing his break with a stunning cross-court forehand.

Murray was well in control by now and it was no surprise when he broke again for a 5-1 lead courtesy of another error from Youzhny.

The Russian put up more of a fight in the next game and retrieved one of the breaks when his opponent shanked a forehand after a long baseline rally.

Murray made no mistake second time round, though, clinching the first set with an ace.

Youzhny, ranked 23rd in the world, has been in good form, reaching the final in Tokyo last month and then winning his fifth ATP World Tour title at home in Moscow.

But he was immediately under pressure at the start of the second set and could not prevent Murray picking up another break.

The 22 year-old Scot was playing a more offensive game than against Verdasco and frequently had Youzhny scrambling all over the court.

The Russian simply could not generate any degree of dominance on his serve and he quickly found himself two breaks behind at 3-0.

Youzhny had two chances to break back in the next game but Murray held firm, although the 27 year-old did manage to get his name on the scoreboard in his next service game.

It was merely delaying the inevitable, however, and an ace sealed a most dominant of victories for the British No 1.

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