|
|
|
| October 3, 2005 | Monday | Sha’aban 28, 1426 |
Federer beats Murray to retain title
BANGKOK, Oct 2: World number one Roger Federer retained his Thailand Open title on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 victory over British teenager Andy Murray.
Federer’s 11th title of the year extended his winning streak in finals to 24.
Murray, 18, was appearing in his first ATP final and the Scot’s performance this week will elevate him from 109 in the world rankings to around 80.
Murray, handed a week wild card into the tournament, double-faulted to lose the second game and also had to fight off two break points at 4-1 before Federer wrapped up the set with a forehand volley.
The second set was more competitive, despite the Scot putting himself under pressure by dropping his first service game.
Murray competed well in the rallies, hit his forehand well and moved smoothly to the ball. He even toyed with Federer at one stage, drawing in him to the net and then executing a lob.
After holding off a break point for 4-1, the Scot’s persistence was rewarded when a hooked forehand from Federer allowed him to level at 3-3.
Murray survived two break points at 4-4 but the top seed did break to lead 6-5 and then held serve to secure the title.
Title for Clijsters
LUXEMBOURG: Kim Clijsters of Belgium won her eighth title of the year after overpowering Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2 6-4 in the final of the $585,000 Luxembourg Open on Sunday.
The victory equalled Clijsters’s previous best title haul for a year, in 2003 when she reached number one in the world.
Bjorkman wins
HO CHI MINH CITY: Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman beat Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win the 380,000-dollar ATP tournament on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Bjorkman thereby won the sixth tournament of his career against an opponent often beaten by the power of the Swede’s shots.
Vaidisova triumphs
SEOUL: Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic defeated top seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the final of the Korea Open here on Sunday to claim her first title of year.
Vaidisova, the tournament’s youngest player at the age of 16 and ranked 24 in the world, routed Jankovic, the world No. 17, 7-5, 6-3.—Agencies
|
|
|
|
