Nadal defeats resilient Murray 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to enter final
Nadal defeats resilient Murray 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to enter final
Rafael Nadal clinched his first appearance in the final of the ATP World Tour finals after a thrilling 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) win over Andy Murray on Saturday.u00a0
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| Rafael Nadal is ecstatic after winning the first set during his semi-final match against Andy Murray in the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday. PIC/Getty Images |
The World No 1, who has already won Wimbledon and the French and US Opens this year, will now play Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.u00a0
Defeat was hard on Murray, who led 4-1 in the final set tie-break. But Nadal has been in terrific form this week, a complete contrast to the forlorn figure who lost three successive matches here last year.
Neither player was prepared to give an inch and the set proceeded smoothly all the way to the tie-break, which Nadal took after a gruelling battle for supremacy.
Murray faced two break points early in the second set. Now was the time for the Scot to show his fighting spirit, and he did, with a brave second serve saving one before a backhand winner took care of the second.
Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, the Spaniard was left helpless as Murray blasted his way to 15-40 and then drilled a backhand winner cross-court to level the match.
There was another twist as Murray moved to break point, which he took with a stunning backhand pass. That sent the match to a decisive tie-break and Murray made the early move, two mini-breaks putting him 3-0 ahead.
Thenu00a0 Nadal came through and at 5-6 the Spaniard had another match point. Murray saved that one but on Nadal's serve later, after three hours and 11 minutes, the match was finally decided with a superb winner from him.
