Andy Murray Wins Fourth ATP Title In Qatar

Jan 6 2008 By Bill Mcintyre

SHATTERED Scots star Andy Murray admitted he nearly ran out of steam as he closed in on the first tennis title of the year last night at the Qatar Open.

The 20-year-old was pushed all the way in the final by close friend Stanislas Wawrinka before digging into his energy reserves in the baking heat of Doha.

Murray emerged triumphant with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over the Swiss.

The British No.1's every move was matched by Wawrinka - ranked 36th in the world - in the first two sets of a thrilling clash played in front of a full house in the Khalifa Stadium.

Despite being drained by the heat and a gruelling schedule of five matches in six days Murray pulled out all the stops in the third set to see off his 22-year-old opponent to claim the fourth ATP title of his career.

But the Dunblane ace admitted he was on his last legs in the final set and and didn't know if he had enough in the tank to make it over the finishing line.

Murray said: "I don't know how much longer I could have run out there.

"I expect I am going to be stiff in the morning but it was worth it.

"I worked really hard in the off season. I am happy it paid off this week.

"I played really well here last year but didn't produce good enough tennis in the final.

This year I did and I am delighted to win this trophy.

"It's always nice to win another title and it has been great preparation for the Australian Open next week."

If Murray thought the hard work had been done in Friday's semi-final when he outplayed the top-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko he was well off the mark because this was easily the toughest of the five matches he has contested in the Exxon Mobil Open.

Although he dropped a set in the second round to German Rainer Schuettler he easily won the next two.

Here Andy's opponent did the fighting back and after levelling at one set all Wawrinka started thinking of adding the scalp of world No.11 Murray to that of the holder Ivan Ljubicic.

Murray began the match nervously and both players failed to hold serve in the opening three games of the first set.

But with the scores level at 3-3 Murray broke then held his own serve to claim the set 6-4.

Wawrinka, who defeated Murray on clay in Davis Cup competition three years ago and also on hard court at the ATP Masters Series Miami in 2006, battled back to take the second set 6-4.

Murray has shown great character in this first tournament of the new campaign and his first event since deciding to split with American coach Brad Gilbert - and he called on that mental strength when he needed it most.

A break at the start of the deciding set put him in charge and when Wawrinka double-faulted on break point to give Murray a 3-0 advantage the crisis was over.

Murray gave back one of those two breaks immediately but crucially held his next serve then broke Wawrinka to love to move within sight of the finishing line.

A safe service game then completed his two-hour 24 minute triumph.

More important than the s86,000 first prize are the ranking points that should enable Murray to reclaim his place in the world's top 10 when the new lists are published tomorrow.

Murray admitted his pre-season work with his new fitness team of Jez Green and Matt Little had payed dividends against Wawrinka.

He said: "Stan played some unbelievable shots and made me do a lot of running.

"My first four matches this week were fairly comfortable but this one was really tough and I'm happy with the way things went.

"I was pretty nervous at the start as I wasn't hitting the ball well.

"The first couple of sets I did a lot of running but I was able to serve much better in the third."