Murray sweeps aside Verdasco to win first Dubai title

 

Andy Murray has claimed the Dubai Duty Free Championships title as the world number one overcame a slow start to beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-2. Verdasco was a break ahead twice in the first set but couldn’t capitalise, as Murray found his range to turn the set around and take the lead. The Spaniard’s erratic form didn’t improve in the second set either, as Murray was too solid and clinically went on to wrap up a relatively comfortable win.

In the first set, both players were quite nervy but it was Verdasco who held the early advantage, twice forging ahead with the break. Even though the Spaniard was at times producing some blistering tennis especially on his forehand side, he was also committing many errors and at 3-2 down, Murray again retrieved the break back with an angled backhand return winner before swiftly moving 4-3 ahead. In the following game, Verdasco looked on course to level the scoreline with a 40-0 lead on serve but a series of errors eventually gifted Murray another break and the chance to close out the set. Having now settled into his rhythm, Murray wrapped up the set emphatically to take the lead in the contest.

 

As the second set unfolded, Verdasco was under more pressure and was simply unable to break down his opponent in the rallies. At 1-1, the Spaniard seemed to have run out of ideas and Murray fully capitalised, comfortably dispatching a passing shot to gain the crucial break. The Brit continued to hold serve with minimal fuss as he opened up a 3-1 lead, as Verdasco was struggling to handle the consistency of his opponent. At 4-2 up, the world number one pressed for the double break and despite Verdasco’s resistance, Murray was in ruthless mood and eventually converted an opportunity with a wrong-footing groundstroke. Serving at 5-2 up for the match, the world number one had shown an impressive blend of patience and aggression throughout and easily closed out the encounter with an unreturnable serve to clinch the title.

 

Murray’s triumph over Verdasco was his first tournament win in Dubai, having finished runner up in the 2012 final to Roger Federer. It’s also a return to winning ways for the world number one, as in his last tournament at the Australian Open, he suffered an early defeat to Mischa Zverev.