Andy Murray earned his 46th ATP singles title today beating Stan Wawrinka in Antwerp 36 64 64 to win the European Cup.
It’s the first title for Murray since 2017 and his hip surgery earlier this year.
“It means a lot. The past few years have been extremely difficult. Both me and Stan have had a lot of injury problems in the past couple of years. Amazing to be back playing against him in a final like that. I think it was a great match,” Murray said on court after his victory. “I didn’t expect to be in this position at all, so I’m very happy.”
Murray, 32 years old and ranked 243, leads the head to head with Stan now 12-8.
Murray, down a set and break earlier in the match today, clinched the title when Wawrinka missed an inside in forehand wide. Murray managed to beat some formidable competitors this week en route to the ATP 250 title – Kimmer Coppejans, Pablo Cuevas, Marius Copil and Ugo Humbert. Humbert and Copil also pushed Murray to the three set limit.
“Stan is a brilliant player. He’s won many, many big tournaments. He always plays extremely well in the big matches,” Murray said. “We know each other’s games well. We played many tough matches in the past. I expected another one today and that was what I got.”
Andy Murray · Facing Andy Murray
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« Previous 1 … 4 5 6Andrew Miller · October 29, 2019 at 9:17 am
Love the injury in tennis excuse. If you were fearful of an injury, don’t show up for the mega payday. Shenzen is Megabucks. Everyone just for showing up gets Alex Zverev’s 2018 guaranteed appearance fee of US $385,000, more than enough to pay for your hitting partner/coach.
Halep is already at a guaranteed US $690,000. Andreescu probably pocketed US $500,000, more than enough to take care of coco.
If you didn’t want the injury after more than a month off and a scant few matches over the last 50 days…just don’t play.
Andrew Miller · October 29, 2019 at 9:20 am
Perfect way to play. If you see your opponent is injured you have to run them hard. They are staying in for whatever reasons and you must be that competitive. If they are down be a person and help, but if they are up and playing, no mercy.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 9:58 am
I suppose if you qualify for the Finals and you feel ok then there’s no reason you shouldn’t show up. Probably both Naomi and Bianca felt fit before the tournament – Naomi most likely did something to her shoulder in her first match and Bianca’s back gave in to the stress put on it in her match – which is not the same as practice.
As I said, Bianca may not be able to play a full schedule – that’s something she’ll have to find out. I’m sure she’d rather be fit. I doubt money is much of a factor. And I didn’t hear her making any excuses in her pc. She just didn’t want to discuss her back, which is understandable.
Bertens is playing her 8th consecutive week – she’s the Iron Lady. Of course she didn”t reach the final in all those tournaments. Good win v Barty – who I see as the Nearly Woman of today.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 10:21 am
I’m still surprised at how often Simona needs to call on Cahill. Seeing how she won Wimbledon without calling on anyone.
Hartt · October 29, 2019 at 11:27 am
Speaking of players withdrawing or retiring, Simon had to retire early in his match vs Shapo. Gilles was limping and looked to be in a lot of pain. He tried treatment, but to no avail.
It was a shame for Simon, the French fans, and those of us who were looking forward to their match.
Andrew Miller · October 29, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Has Tiafoe fired his coach yet? Or is he waiting until after the Next Gen tournament to make decisions? The next gen tournament has a lot of names that are more up and coming than young vets/j.m.’s like Tiafoe.
Just lost to the higher ranked Fritz. But it’s another early loss.
Unless he wins the next gen tournament. one slam QF, excellent, one good Masters showing, then nothing.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2019 at 2:21 pm
James Blake is helping Tiafoe, he helped him in California before Basel and will help again before Australian Open. Presume Tiafoe still has his buddy caddying for him.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Maybe last comment on this thread which is getting lengthy – Julia Georges has appointed Jens Gerlach, German Fed Cup captain, as her full time coach for 2020. No word of a coach for Kerber or her plans for next year.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Halep clearly needs the presence and voice of Cahill, it helps her through the stress and tension of a difficult match. She benefits from his pep talks. He never fails to deliver the right message in the right tone. She is smart enough to recognize the need and the values of Cahill.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 2:46 pm
Still, I find it one of the oddest coaching relationships I’ve seen because it’s clear that Simona doesn’t need Cahill at all in purely tennis terms, at least on the court and that’s where she calls on him most obviously. As we know, she won Wimbledon with no occ and yet in lesser tournaments she’ll have him out the maximum number of times. It’s intriguing from a psychological point of view and I can’t think of any other player who has a similar need for a constant voice in her ear.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Andreescu’s coach Sylvain Bruneau has been quoted as suggesting she will play fewer tournaments next year, and have a program designed to reduce the recurrence of injuries, especially the lower back problem which has followed her for much of 2019. She is still on the program to play Ka Pliskova in Shenzhen but most likely her team will make the final decision, whether to play or not, for her.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Catherine, maybe Halep is showing unconsciously the need of a woman to have the securing, relaxing, inspiring, masculine physical presence of a man at her side. I don’t care what BJK says about the matter, will stick with my opinion.
catherine · October 29, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Scoop – BJK’s not a man-hater (she’s kept Larry’s name all her life) and I would imagine she would just say people have different needs and find those needs fulfilled in different people. As I’m sure you know, not all men display the admirable qualities you cite.
Simona has a boyfriend – he must be there for her emotionally. Cahill supplies something else. My own view is that it’s a kind of learned dependence. Simona’s more capable than she thinks she is. She’s proved it. But she’ll stick to Cahill until she retires. To me it’s not exactly a flaw, it’s as though she lacks trust in herself, to be independent.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Catherine, we can go all Sigmund Freud on the Halep Cahill relationship. We could probably discuss it for hours. It works for both, both succeed and thrive together. It’s a special connection.
Andrew Miller · October 29, 2019 at 10:13 pm
Cahill is a good coach. Not a player yet he’s coached that hasn’t done well. That said, Cahill only coaches players that are already top five…hard to go wrong 🙂