Murray prevails in Miami thriller

What a relief! ... Andy Murray celebrates his big win. Source: J Pat Carter / AAP

Second seed Andy Murray has won the ATP Miami Masters title, saving a match point in the penultimate game in defeating third seed David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1).

Murray captured his 26th career tour title, and second of the year having taken the Brisbane crown, after a gruelling two hours and 45 minutes.

"Both of us fought hard,'' Murray said.

"Both of us were struggling physically at the end. I was lucky to come through.''

It was the second Miami title for Murray, who won the title in 2009 but lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic.

Murray will rise to world No.2, bumping his way ahead of Roger Federer, while Ferrer will move past Rafael Nadal to become fourth in the rankings, both men matching the best position of their careers with the improvement.

Nadal and Federer skipped this year's edition of the rich hardcourt event in Miami, which also included a WTA event won by Serena Williams, while world No.1 Djokovic was ousted in the fourth round.

Murray, who owns a home 10 minutes from the stadium, beat Ferrer, who turns 31 this week, for the seventh time in 12 career meetings.

Ferrer's only win over Murray off clay was at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals.

Ferrer, who has won this year at Auckland and Buenos Aires, failed in his bid to win his first US title and become the first Spaniard to win the Miami title.

He is 0-12 in finals against players ranked in the world's top four.

"I am tired. It was a very long match,'' Ferrer said.

"Andy had more at the end. Congratulations to him.''

Ferrer and Murray exchanged breaks over the first six games of the third set, then each held serve once before Murray broke Ferrer for a 5-4 edge when the Spaniard netted a forehand.

Murray served for the match but surrendered a break instead, Ferrer pulling level and then holding serve for a 6-5 advantage.

Ferrer reached match point in the 12th game on Murray's serve but stopped play on the key point to challenge on a Murray forehand that was ruled on the baseline, setting the stage for Murray to hold and force the tie-breaker.

"That's the beauty of the challenge system,'' Murray said.

"Some matches that would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in.''

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Ailing Tomic jeered in Miami

Second set surrender ... Bernie Tomic is booed during his loss to Andy Murray in Miami. Source: Lynne Sladky / AAP

Davis Cup-bound Bernard Tomic blamed illness after being jeered when humbled 6-3 6-1 by Andy Murray at the Miami Masters.

World No.45 Tomic managed to win only 10 points in the second set of their second round clash on a steamy Florida afternoon and he put his problems down to the effect of too much air-conditioning on a troublesome virus.

"I didn't play very good in the second set," acknowledged Tomic, who is also teaming with Lleyton Hewitt in doubles in Miami after being restored to the Australian Davis Cup team for its tie against Uzbekistan on April 5-7.

"I didn't feel at 100 per cent. I tried my best but it was not good enough.

"I've had some sort of flu for the last few days. I can't breath through my nose and I lose energy quickly on court.

"I felt good in my first round, but I must have slept under too much A/C.

"The match was played in very hot conditions, and I was soon struggling. After losing the first set it was going to be really difficult to come back from a set down."

Although Tomic offered little resistance in the second set, Murray wasn't sure that he deserved the jeers he heard from the crowd, who may have had memories of Tomic's US Open second round flogging from Andy Roddick last August, when he was accused of tanking by John McEnroe when losing the last set 6-0.

"The one thing I would say is that if you aren't used to playing in these conditions, it is extremely hot and tough to play," said Murray.

"It is tough when you're going behind and making quite a lot of mistakes.

"So I don't know. The crowd, they're free to do whatever they want."

Tomic, champion in Sydney in the run-up to the Australian Open, heads next to Munich when his doubles run is done in Miami to train with the Australian team for the Davis Cup tie in Uzbekistan.

Tomic said he was genuinely pleased to be back on the Davis Cup team. The 20-year-old Queenslander has won eight of his 10 singles rubbers and will be a welcome asset to skipper Pat Rafter in the Asia-Oceania Zone second-round tie.

"I'm very, very happy to be back on the team," said the player whose feud with Rafter exploded last year.

Tomic had originally said he would not be available for the upcoming tie after being left off the side which beat Chinese Taipei in February because of what Rafter called a lack of professionalism.

"I always want to play Davis Cup. I want to thank Pat for picking me," Tomic said.

"Wherever it is I'll always be happy to play for country.

"Lleyton has always told me what a huge thing Davis Cup is. We have a good chance to beat Uzbekistan. I'm back where I want to be, I'm looking forward to playing Davis Cup again and I'll give my best."

View the original article here

Murray prevails in Miami thriller

What a relief! ... Andy Murray celebrates his big win. Source: J Pat Carter / AAP

Second seed Andy Murray has won the ATP Miami Masters title, saving a match point in the penultimate game in defeating third seed David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1).

Murray captured his 26th career tour title, and second of the year having taken the Brisbane crown, after a gruelling two hours and 45 minutes.

"Both of us fought hard,'' Murray said.

"Both of us were struggling physically at the end. I was lucky to come through.''

It was the second Miami title for Murray, who won the title in 2009 but lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic.

Murray will rise to world No.2, bumping his way ahead of Roger Federer, while Ferrer will move past Rafael Nadal to become fourth in the rankings, both men matching the best position of their careers with the improvement.

Nadal and Federer skipped this year's edition of the rich hardcourt event in Miami, which also included a WTA event won by Serena Williams, while world No.1 Djokovic was ousted in the fourth round.

Murray, who owns a home 10 minutes from the stadium, beat Ferrer, who turns 31 this week, for the seventh time in 12 career meetings.

Ferrer's only win over Murray off clay was at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals.

Ferrer, who has won this year at Auckland and Buenos Aires, failed in his bid to win his first US title and become the first Spaniard to win the Miami title.

He is 0-12 in finals against players ranked in the world's top four.

"I am tired. It was a very long match,'' Ferrer said.

"Andy had more at the end. Congratulations to him.''

Ferrer and Murray exchanged breaks over the first six games of the third set, then each held serve once before Murray broke Ferrer for a 5-4 edge when the Spaniard netted a forehand.

Murray served for the match but surrendered a break instead, Ferrer pulling level and then holding serve for a 6-5 advantage.

Ferrer reached match point in the 12th game on Murray's serve but stopped play on the key point to challenge on a Murray forehand that was ruled on the baseline, setting the stage for Murray to hold and force the tie-breaker.

"That's the beauty of the challenge system,'' Murray said.

"Some matches that would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in.''

View the original article here

Ailing Tomic jeered in Miami

Second set surrender ... Bernie Tomic is booed during his loss to Andy Murray in Miami. Source: Lynne Sladky / AAP

Davis Cup-bound Bernard Tomic blamed illness after being jeered when humbled 6-3 6-1 by Andy Murray at the Miami Masters.

World No.45 Tomic managed to win only 10 points in the second set of their second round clash on a steamy Florida afternoon and he put his problems down to the effect of too much air-conditioning on a troublesome virus.

"I didn't play very good in the second set," acknowledged Tomic, who is also teaming with Lleyton Hewitt in doubles in Miami after being restored to the Australian Davis Cup team for its tie against Uzbekistan on April 5-7.

"I didn't feel at 100 per cent. I tried my best but it was not good enough.

"I've had some sort of flu for the last few days. I can't breath through my nose and I lose energy quickly on court.

"I felt good in my first round, but I must have slept under too much A/C.

"The match was played in very hot conditions, and I was soon struggling. After losing the first set it was going to be really difficult to come back from a set down."

Although Tomic offered little resistance in the second set, Murray wasn't sure that he deserved the jeers he heard from the crowd, who may have had memories of Tomic's US Open second round flogging from Andy Roddick last August, when he was accused of tanking by John McEnroe when losing the last set 6-0.

"The one thing I would say is that if you aren't used to playing in these conditions, it is extremely hot and tough to play," said Murray.

"It is tough when you're going behind and making quite a lot of mistakes.

"So I don't know. The crowd, they're free to do whatever they want."

Tomic, champion in Sydney in the run-up to the Australian Open, heads next to Munich when his doubles run is done in Miami to train with the Australian team for the Davis Cup tie in Uzbekistan.

Tomic said he was genuinely pleased to be back on the Davis Cup team. The 20-year-old Queenslander has won eight of his 10 singles rubbers and will be a welcome asset to skipper Pat Rafter in the Asia-Oceania Zone second-round tie.

"I'm very, very happy to be back on the team," said the player whose feud with Rafter exploded last year.

Tomic had originally said he would not be available for the upcoming tie after being left off the side which beat Chinese Taipei in February because of what Rafter called a lack of professionalism.

"I always want to play Davis Cup. I want to thank Pat for picking me," Tomic said.

"Wherever it is I'll always be happy to play for country.

"Lleyton has always told me what a huge thing Davis Cup is. We have a good chance to beat Uzbekistan. I'm back where I want to be, I'm looking forward to playing Davis Cup again and I'll give my best."

View the original article here

Ailing Tomic jeered in Miami

Second set surrender ... Bernie Tomic is booed during his loss to Andy Murray in Miami. Source: Lynne Sladky / AAP

Davis Cup-bound Bernard Tomic blamed illness after being jeered when humbled 6-3 6-1 by Andy Murray at the Miami Masters.

World No.45 Tomic managed to win only 10 points in the second set of their second round clash on a steamy Florida afternoon and he put his problems down to the effect of too much air-conditioning on a troublesome virus.

"I didn't play very good in the second set," acknowledged Tomic, who is also teaming with Lleyton Hewitt in doubles in Miami after being restored to the Australian Davis Cup team for its tie against Uzbekistan on April 5-7.

"I didn't feel at 100 per cent. I tried my best but it was not good enough.

"I've had some sort of flu for the last few days. I can't breath through my nose and I lose energy quickly on court.

"I felt good in my first round, but I must have slept under too much A/C.

"The match was played in very hot conditions, and I was soon struggling. After losing the first set it was going to be really difficult to come back from a set down."

Although Tomic offered little resistance in the second set, Murray wasn't sure that he deserved the jeers he heard from the crowd, who may have had memories of Tomic's US Open second round flogging from Andy Roddick last August, when he was accused of tanking by John McEnroe when losing the last set 6-0.

"The one thing I would say is that if you aren't used to playing in these conditions, it is extremely hot and tough to play," said Murray.

"It is tough when you're going behind and making quite a lot of mistakes.

"So I don't know. The crowd, they're free to do whatever they want."

Tomic, champion in Sydney in the run-up to the Australian Open, heads next to Munich when his doubles run is done in Miami to train with the Australian team for the Davis Cup tie in Uzbekistan.

Tomic said he was genuinely pleased to be back on the Davis Cup team. The 20-year-old Queenslander has won eight of his 10 singles rubbers and will be a welcome asset to skipper Pat Rafter in the Asia-Oceania Zone second-round tie.

"I'm very, very happy to be back on the team," said the player whose feud with Rafter exploded last year.

Tomic had originally said he would not be available for the upcoming tie after being left off the side which beat Chinese Taipei in February because of what Rafter called a lack of professionalism.

"I always want to play Davis Cup. I want to thank Pat for picking me," Tomic said.

"Wherever it is I'll always be happy to play for country.

"Lleyton has always told me what a huge thing Davis Cup is. We have a good chance to beat Uzbekistan. I'm back where I want to be, I'm looking forward to playing Davis Cup again and I'll give my best."

View the original article here

Ailing Tomic jeered in Miami

Second set surrender ... Bernie Tomic is booed during his loss to Andy Murray in Miami. Source: Lynne Sladky / AAP

Davis Cup-bound Bernard Tomic blamed illness after being jeered when humbled 6-3 6-1 by Andy Murray at the Miami Masters.

World No.45 Tomic managed to win only 10 points in the second set of their second round clash on a steamy Florida afternoon and he put his problems down to the effect of too much air-conditioning on a troublesome virus.

"I didn't play very good in the second set," acknowledged Tomic, who is also teaming with Lleyton Hewitt in doubles in Miami after being restored to the Australian Davis Cup team for its tie against Uzbekistan on April 5-7.

"I didn't feel at 100 per cent. I tried my best but it was not good enough.

"I've had some sort of flu for the last few days. I can't breath through my nose and I lose energy quickly on court.

"I felt good in my first round, but I must have slept under too much A/C.

"The match was played in very hot conditions, and I was soon struggling. After losing the first set it was going to be really difficult to come back from a set down."

Although Tomic offered little resistance in the second set, Murray wasn't sure that he deserved the jeers he heard from the crowd, who may have had memories of Tomic's US Open second round flogging from Andy Roddick last August, when he was accused of tanking by John McEnroe when losing the last set 6-0.

"The one thing I would say is that if you aren't used to playing in these conditions, it is extremely hot and tough to play," said Murray.

"It is tough when you're going behind and making quite a lot of mistakes.

"So I don't know. The crowd, they're free to do whatever they want."

Tomic, champion in Sydney in the run-up to the Australian Open, heads next to Munich when his doubles run is done in Miami to train with the Australian team for the Davis Cup tie in Uzbekistan.

Tomic said he was genuinely pleased to be back on the Davis Cup team. The 20-year-old Queenslander has won eight of his 10 singles rubbers and will be a welcome asset to skipper Pat Rafter in the Asia-Oceania Zone second-round tie.

"I'm very, very happy to be back on the team," said the player whose feud with Rafter exploded last year.

Tomic had originally said he would not be available for the upcoming tie after being left off the side which beat Chinese Taipei in February because of what Rafter called a lack of professionalism.

"I always want to play Davis Cup. I want to thank Pat for picking me," Tomic said.

"Wherever it is I'll always be happy to play for country.

"Lleyton has always told me what a huge thing Davis Cup is. We have a good chance to beat Uzbekistan. I'm back where I want to be, I'm looking forward to playing Davis Cup again and I'll give my best."

View the original article here