• Shenzhen Open

Tears of joy for Murray after Shenzhen Open triumph

Andy Murray said he was lucky to defeat Tommy Robredo in the Shenzhen Open final © Getty Images

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Andy Murray was overcome with emotion after ending a burdensome title drought that stretched all the way back to his 2013 Wimbledon triumph.

Mum Judy wept along too - watching on television because of Strictly Come Dancing commitments - as Murray came back from the brink of defeat to beat Tommy Robredo in the final of the Shenzhen Open.

Murray broke down in tears after a 5-7 7-6(9) 6-1 victory, a success that was just the tonic for the Scot, who entered the modest ATP 250 tier event because of his impatience to win another a tournament.

He was also aiming to strengthen his prospects of qualifying for the end-of-year Tour Finals, and Murray is now closing in rapidly on a place among the elite eight players who will meet in London in November.

Murray faced five match points in a second-set tie-break, four of them in succession from 6-2 behind, but saved them with some of his best tennis, and then breezed through the decider as Robredo struggled physically.

"Today was obviously an incredibly tough match, the conditions are so hard to play in," Murray said. "I got lucky, basically, at the end of the second set. I fought hard, tried my best and thankfully managed to turn it round.

"Tommy had a great tournament. He probably deserved to win the match today. He had the opportunities in the second set, but sometimes that happens in sport. I just tried to fight till the end."

Mother Judy, so often at courtside for Murray's big matches, invoked a little Scottish dialect to hail her son as she wrote on Twitter: "True grit. Stoatir. X"

She admitted she was crying, adding: "It's been a tough time for him."

Victory gave Murray his first silverware since parting ways with Ivan Lendl before the French Open and pairing up with coach Amelie Mauresmo in June. Theirs has been a combination which has come under a close scrutiny which should be eased by this achievement.

Murray acknowledged the support from within his entourage and family.

"I want to thank my team and I want to thank my friends and family back home and especially my girlfriend [Kim Sears]," he said. "She's supported me a lot through this week.

"It's been a very tough week for me."

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