ANDY MURRAY IS WORKING HARD. LONDON BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPS ARE ALMOST IN HIS REACH

Written by: Staff on 20th October 2014

ANDY MURRAY IS WORKING HARD. LONDON BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPS ARE ALMOST IN HIS REACH

epa04449823 Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball to Vasek Pospisil of Canada during their second round match of the Erste Bank Open ATP tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, 16 October 2014. EPA/HELMUT FOHRINGER |

Now Getting In London Draw Is Important to Murray

Just a few weeks ago Andy Murray’s chances of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals seemed minimal but a second title in the space of four weeks, winning the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, has boosted the Scot’s 2014 position to the extent he currently holds eighth place in the Race for London.

Most pertinently Murray beat David Ferrer, his closest rival for that last place in the eight-man elite draw for London, in the Viennese final and with Milos Raonic losing early in Moscow’s Kremlin Cup, the order of merit changed rapidly in the space of a few days.

But now both Murray and Ferrer move on to the Spaniard’s home town tournament the Valencia 500 Open and if the seedings work out to plan, will meet against for the third time in as many weeks in the semi-final.

Andy Murray of Britain reacts after winning against David Ferrer of Spain in the final match of the Erste Bank Open ATP tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, 19 October 2014. EPA/GEORG HOCHMUTH

David Ferrer of Spain celebrates a point against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their quarter-final match for the ATP World Tour tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, 17 October 2014. EPA/HELMUT FOHRINGER

Ferrer has a superb record at the Spanish tournament, winning the title in 2008 when it was an outdoor clay-court event, staged in the spring. But since moving back in the calendar to late October and going indoors at the Chided de les Artes y las Ciencas, he also hoisted the trophy in 2010 and 2012 before losing out in last year’s final against Mikhail Youzhny.

Murray has taken a wild card into the tournament, after deliberating long and hard whether to play in Valencia or Basle. He won the Valencia title on his debut in 2009 but lost out in the second round to Juan Monaco in his return visit a year later.

Speaking of his 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 win in Sunday’s Vienna final, Murray said: “Obviously, it was an important match in the race for the Tour Finals in London and it was a very, very tough match but I managed to get through it.

“Both of us were in the locker room struggling, limping around and very stiff and sore so it was a nice one to get through.”

Andy Murray of Great Britain with the Erste Bank Open Trophy during the winner ceremony after the final match against David Ferrer of Spain at the Erste Bank Open ATP tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, 19 October 2014. EPA/GEORG HOCHMUTH

Murray appears to have undergone a 180 degree turn in attitude towards qualification for London, since leaving the US Open in early September saying it was nowhere near paramount in his thoughts. After the Vienna win he insisted: “I said when I arrived in China that I wanted to try and get to the latter stages of the events I was playing between now and the end of the year and play against the top players to get into the routine and rhythm again.

“I was starting to feel good at the US Open a few months ago and I wanted to try and continue that through until the end of the year.

“Obviously, London would be very nice if I can get there but it’s also important for seedings at the Australian Open. To be seeded in the top eight there can make a big difference to the draw and hopefully I will be able to do that.”

US Open champion Marin Cilic cemented his place at London even before winning the Kremlin Cup title in Moscow with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 while seventh placed Tomas Berdych prevailed to win the IF Stockholm Open, beating Race rival Grigor Dimitrov in the final.

Berdych, second seeded in Valencia this week, currently has 4,105 points giving him a 220 points lead over Murray who in turn is 110 points ahead of Ferrer and 135 points better off than Raonic. This week there are 500 point on offer to the winners of the Valencia 500 and Swiss Indoors in Basle, 300 to the runner up, 180 to the beaten semi-finalists and 90 to the beaten quarterfinalists.

Story via Bob Larson tennis news

Topics: Andy Murray, Barclays ATP World Tour, Erste Bank Open, Tennis, Vienna

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

October 20, 2014 at 10:58 am

@andy_murray IS WORKING HARD. LONDON BARCLAYS YEAR END CHAMPS ARE ALMOST IN HIS REACH- http://t.co/98DWpS3J4G #tennis #ATP #andymurray