• Japan Open

Awesome Murray roars back to beat Nadal

ESPN staff
October 9, 2011

Andy Murray confirmed his status as the form player on the ATP Tour by recovering from a one-set deficit to beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday's Japan Open final.

Murray clinched his fourth ATP Tour title of the year in magnificent fashion in Tokyo, dethroning the defending champion in a three-set tussle worthy of the occasion. Nadal was tight and focused in set one, but Murray was imaginative and clinical as he brilliantly fought back for a 3-6 6-2 6-0 triumph.

Only once in his last 23 matches had Murray been beaten going into Sunday's final, although his head-to-head record with Nadal read a losing 1-2 from their most recent three encounters. However, in something of a reverse from their Wimbledon encounter, when Murray controlled matters early before relinquishing control, this time it was Nadal who witnessed the match slip away from his grasp.

For anybody watching that Wimbledon exit of Murray back in the summer, the signs were clear that he had the game, the tactics and the shots to beat Nadal more regularly on the big occasion. On that day at the All England Club, a glaring missed winner at the net changed the direction of the contest, but in Tokyo it was Murray who was able to turn things in his favour.

Nadal gave him next to nothing in set one, serving fantastically as Murray won just two points on the Spaniard's second serve. When the former world No. 1 is in such stubborn mood he only needs one break to take a set, and that is how things transpired in Japan.

The match changed in the second set, and it was Murray's trademark ability to return serve that halted Nadal's flow. Suddenly the Briton was getting his racket on Nadal's first serve, taking 13 of 20 points to secure two breaks that set up a decider.

The psychological damage had been done, and by the time the players emerged from their stools for the final set, Murray was seeing the Nadal serve like a football. The Scot was relentless as he won all 10 points on his rival's first serve, rattling off three straights breaks to become the deserving winner of the Japan Open.

In Beijing, the China Open was won by third seed Tomas Berdych, who also came from a set down to beat Marin Cilic. Both men served seven aces in a tight contest that finished 3-6 6-4 6-1 in favour of Berdych.

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