Tennis: Britain's Andy Murray beats Andy Roddick.

[Blackleaf]

Britain's Andy Murray, ranked only 60th in the world, beats America's Andy Roddick.

Magnificent Murray knocks out Roddick
19th February 2006

Andy Murray: Biggest win of his career


Britain's Andy Murray pulled off the biggest win of his young career when beating top seed Andy Roddick in the semi-finals of the SAP Open in San Jose.

Former US Open winner Roddick, 23, was looking for a hat-trick of victories in this event and his 24 ATP Tour titles have helped earn him over £5.5million in prize money.

However, 18-year-old Murray, who has netted just £150,000 in comparison, belied his relative inexperience to clinch a 7-5 7-5 success over the American.

Murray will now face another formidable foe in Lleyton Hewitt in the final after the third-seeded Australian beat American Vincent Spadea 6-3 6-4 in the other semi.

Hewitt, who will be 25 next week, is a former Wimbledon and US Open winner who has amassed over £9million in prize money and took this title in 2002.

Roddick had looked the more comfortable on his serve in the opening set until Murray showed impeccable timing to break him in the 11th game.

The Dunblane teenager looked on course for victory when breaking the American again in game five of the second set, only for Roddick to break back immediately.

However, Murray struck once more at 5-5 and then held his nerve in a thrilling final game to wrap up a famous win.


dailymail.co.uk

 

[Blackleaf]

And, unbelievably, he beats Lleyton Hewitt in the final!


Murray takes first title

He wins 2-6, 6-1, 7-6

Monday February 20, 2006
The Guardian


Andy Murray won his first ATP title last night when he took the third-set tie-break 7-3 to beat Lleyton Hewitt in the SAP Open final in California. He had match points at 5-4 and 6-5 but ultimately held his nerve for victory. The win caps a fine weekend for the Briton who beat the world No3 Andy Roddick in the semi-final.

Murray's hopes were dealt a blow after he lost the first set in San Jose. The third seed and world No11 Hewitt gained the initiative when saving a break point on his own serve in the first game and then broke Murray to go 2-0 ahead. The 18-year-old Scot hit back immediately with a break of his own but soon found himself 4-2 down after Hewitt secured his second break in game six. The Australian had little trouble in holding his serve in game seven and then secured the set 6-2 with another break.

Murray is the youngest player to reach the Bay Area tournament final since 1988. What Murray lacks in experience he makes up for in determination, breaking twice at the start of the second set. With the Scot also holding his own serve twice, Murray went 4-0 up and took the match into a deciding set 6-1 with another break three games later.

Murray took a 2-0 lead in the third set only for Hewitt to come back to 2-2. The pair traded breaks again before the Briton earned himself a match point in the 10th game, but his opponent clawed his way back to 5-5. The teenager forced another match-point at 6-5, but Hewitt fought back again to take the match to a tie-break.

guardian.co.uk