Austrian Open: Murray closes on World Tour Finals with Vienna triumph
Scot comes back from one set down to defeat top seed Ferrer
VIENNA:
Andy Murray boosted his chances of making the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday, when he defeated Spain's David Ferrer 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to claim the Austrian Open for his 30th career title.
The hard-fought victory in two hours, 41 minutes sends the Scot just shy of eighth spot in the points race for the London season-ending finale which begins in three weeks.
Murray and Ferrer, the top seed and playing the event on a wild card like the Scot, were almost dead-level this week in the race for the last three places at the eight-man season wrap-up.
"It always feels great to win a title," said Murray, who lost to Ferrer in three sets at the Shanghai Masters last week. "This was an extremely difficult match.
"He deserved to win the first set, I deserved the second and the third could have gone either way. I'm lucky I just managed to pull it off," he said of a final set which featured seven breaks of serve.
Murray, who flew into Vienna on a private jet, was promising himself the smallest of celebrations as he continues his battle to claim one of three remaining spots in the year-end showpiece in London.
"Maybe there will be one glass of champagne," he hinted. "Every event is so important now with the race for London going strong."
Ferrer to accompany Murray at Valencia
Murray will be joined in Valencia by Ferrer at the Spaniard's home event as they both look to book the spot for the World Tour finals.
As during the Vienna week, just a few computer points separate the battling pair in the season race with Murray now slightly ahead after Sunday's title.
"It's the same for both of us, we've had very close matches," said Murray. "Whoever qualifies for London will deserve it."
Ferrer was making his first Vienna appearance in a decade and remains inspired despite his loss at the final hurdle.
"Murray played a great match and deserved to win the title," said the 32-year-old. "I had my chances but it was so tough today. I'm going to keep fighting for London."
The battling victory puts Murray in solid contention to book a London berth with next week and the Paris Masters to follow wrapping up the regular ATP season.
The Scot now trails US Open finalist Kei Nishikori and Stockholm winner Tomas Berdych, while world number one Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic have already qualified for London, which begins on November 9.
Andy Murray boosted his chances of making the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday, when he defeated Spain's David Ferrer 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to claim the Austrian Open for his 30th career title.
The hard-fought victory in two hours, 41 minutes sends the Scot just shy of eighth spot in the points race for the London season-ending finale which begins in three weeks.
Murray and Ferrer, the top seed and playing the event on a wild card like the Scot, were almost dead-level this week in the race for the last three places at the eight-man season wrap-up.
"It always feels great to win a title," said Murray, who lost to Ferrer in three sets at the Shanghai Masters last week. "This was an extremely difficult match.
"He deserved to win the first set, I deserved the second and the third could have gone either way. I'm lucky I just managed to pull it off," he said of a final set which featured seven breaks of serve.
Murray, who flew into Vienna on a private jet, was promising himself the smallest of celebrations as he continues his battle to claim one of three remaining spots in the year-end showpiece in London.
"Maybe there will be one glass of champagne," he hinted. "Every event is so important now with the race for London going strong."
Ferrer to accompany Murray at Valencia
Murray will be joined in Valencia by Ferrer at the Spaniard's home event as they both look to book the spot for the World Tour finals.
As during the Vienna week, just a few computer points separate the battling pair in the season race with Murray now slightly ahead after Sunday's title.
"It's the same for both of us, we've had very close matches," said Murray. "Whoever qualifies for London will deserve it."
Ferrer was making his first Vienna appearance in a decade and remains inspired despite his loss at the final hurdle.
"Murray played a great match and deserved to win the title," said the 32-year-old. "I had my chances but it was so tough today. I'm going to keep fighting for London."
The battling victory puts Murray in solid contention to book a London berth with next week and the Paris Masters to follow wrapping up the regular ATP season.
The Scot now trails US Open finalist Kei Nishikori and Stockholm winner Tomas Berdych, while world number one Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic have already qualified for London, which begins on November 9.