Tennis: Andy Murray rises to world number two

Aug 19 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Friday

ANDY Murray goes into this week’s Cincinnati Masters in buoyant mood having secured his position as world number two for the first time and bagging yet another title in the process.

Murray again showed his class, finally powering to victory over Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro after coming from a set down to win the Montreal Masters 6-7 7-6 6-1 on Sunday.

While the title win – his fourth Masters crown – must have been pleasing enough for the Dunblane ace, his performances in Canada were also enough for him to make yet another jump in the rankings, skipping ahead of Rafael Nadal into second spot.

He now lies just behind top dog Roger Federer but in jumping up a place he becomes the first person to hold the position of second in the world – other than the Swiss master or Nadal – since Lleyton Hewitt managed it four years ago.

Murray actually went into Sunday’s final with his lofty position in the rankings already confirmed after Nadal’s earlier shock exit from the tournament.

But there was to be no let up at all from Murray, and his gruelling fitness schedule in the run up to Montreal certainly looked like it did the trick as he ran away with the third set in Sunday’s final after two nervy tie-breaks previously.

Once again though there was little time for Murray to dwell on the moment as there’s now the small matter of attempting to retain his Cincinnati Masters title, one he picked up last year by beating Novak Djokovic 7-6 7-6 in the final.

A first round bye may help Murray get over his Montreal exertions but he’ll have to be fit and ready to go again against Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in round two this week.

Back in Europe, Jamie Murray stayed in Italy this week for the Trani Cup Challenger event alongside doubles partner Jamie Delgado.

They were in action against Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano and Matteo Trevisan in their opener on Monday and came through after their opponents were forced to retire due to injury with the first set poised at 5-5.

Murray and Delgado now face top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Frank Moser in the quarter-finals.