Twice As Nice – Murray Defends Rogers Cup Title

This article was last updated on May 19, 2022

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Defending Rogers Cup
champion Andy Murray
hoists the trophy over his
head after defeating Roger Federer in straight sets.
Andy Murray played inspired tennis all week at the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Sunday’s final against Roger Federer was no exception as he successfully defended his title winning in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5.
 
Making the feat all the more impressive is the fact that he also knocked off top-ranked Raphael Nadal in straight sets as well in a semifinal match on Saturday. It’s true that both Federer and Nadal were playing for the first time in six weeks but that doesn’t take anything away from Murray’s great achievement – he still overpowered two of the best tennis players in the world.
 
“Winning a tournament is always great,” said Murray who won his first tournament of the year. "But it’s the first time I beat Roger and Rafa in the same tournament, which is probably the most pleasing thing, and then didn’t drop a set against either of them. So it’s good for the confidence for the next few weeks.”
 
“It’s a very, very difficult thing to do just now because the players that are around, Roger and Rafa are two of the best…and that’s why I think if you can do it, it makes it a much, much greater achievement. So hopefully I can give myself a good shot at the US Open.”
 
Federer sets his sights on a forehand return
Federer was impressed with Murray’s performance on Sunday and despite losing the match wasn’t overly disappointed with his play in the tournament as a whole. 
 
“I thought he (Murray) played well,” said Federer. “He was aggressive. He was taking the ball early. He wasn’t giving me much, and he clutch served at the very end when he had to, and he deserved the victory.”
 
“I thought I played well, I didn’t play my best… I had some issues sometimes, whether it was on the serve, forehand, backhand. That’s normal. I think that’s more from not playing enough matches lately and some rust, but I still made the finals and beat great players along the way who have caused me difficulties in the past.”
 
In the doubles final, the American twins Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra of France in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 to win their seventh title of the season.
               
Rain, Rain Go Away
 
Play is halted in the second set
as rain pours down
on at centre court.
Murray jumped out to a great start as he broke Federer’s serves twice to open the match and roared out to a 3-0 lead. The Swiss legend fought back and broke Murray twice to even the set at 5-5 but Murray had Federer on the run and took the next two games to win the first set 7-5.
 
With the rain clouds hovering overhead it was a matter of time before it started to rain and came as no surprise as showers were in the forecast all day. At first it started to drizzle but eventually the players and referees decided to briefly halt the match with Federer up 2-1 in the second set but with Murray ahead in the game.
 
The players sat under umbrellas off to the side of the court but were soon brought back on to resume play. Murray won a point to hold serve and to tie it at 2-2 before it started to drizzle again, but this time the players left the court as it began to rain harder.
 
After about a 45 minute delay, the players came back onto the court to resume play once again. Murray broke Federer’s serve to go ahead 3-2. But with the score tied at 30-30 the clouds opened up again as it started to rain heavily forcing another delay.
 
Murray, not known for showing much
 emotion, lets it all out as he shouts and
pumps his fist in celebration
After another lengthy delay of over an hour, both players returned to the court in sunshine after crew workers worked diligently to dry the court with several blowers. It became apparent that the rain delays had an effect on the finalists as they both looked sluggish and lacked the intensity that was seen in the first set.
 
When play resumed it was Federer’s turn to break Murray and he then clinched the next game with a great forehand down the baseline to go ahead 4-3.
 
With the set tied at 5-5, Murray was able to win a big game to break Federer and go ahead 6-5 and for a chance to serve out the match. Down 30-40, Murray unleashed back-to-back aces to get to match point before the Swiss native was able to win the next point for deuce.
 
But Murray was able to get his opponent on the run again to win the next point before drawing Federer to the net with a drop shot which was lobbed over and out to seal the victory for the defending champ. Murray became the first player to win back-to-back Rogers Cup titles since Andre Agassi did it in 1994-95.
 
“I felt pretty good this week, and I prepared well for the tournament,” said Murray. “That definitely helps. If you have the right preparation, you remove some doubts from your mind, and I just wanted to go for my shots more this week, play the way that I felt like playing and it definitely worked.”
 
For Federer, his poor start coupled with the rain delays didn’t allow him the opportunity to get into the flow of the game.
 
“I thought, to me, it was particularly hard being down 3-0 with a double break, running behind the score, and still losing the first set, and not coming through there obviously was a bit of a blow,” said Federer.
 
“And then the rain delays completely shut it down for me to get any kind of rhythm. I know for him, as well, but it was just a really hard match to go through at the very end. It was played on a couple points here and there, and it didn’t even feel like the end of the match, you know. Just all of a sudden it was all over. So it was just kind of a touch disappointing, obviously.”

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