Another epic final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray…this time in the Shanghai Masters Final. Murray won the first set 7-5, but Nole was able to battle back in the 2nd, force the tie-break, overcome FIVE Murray match points, then go on to win the title in the final set 6-3.
After the match, Novak Djokovic had this to say: “I won the match. But, you know, as spectators could see, we were very close. It was a very even match throughout the whole three sets. He was so close to the victory that I cannot say I was the better player.”
In defeat, U.S. Open Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Andy Murray took it easier on himself than he has in the past: “It was a disappointing one to lose. I’ve lost tougher matches than that before in the biggest events. So I’m sure I’ll recover from it pretty well. It’s not like I threw the match away. I didn’t make, I don’t think, any real glaring errors or anything.”
The newest rivalry among Men’s Tennis’ Big-4 intensifies…
Meanwhile, British tennis fans have a lot to be proud of after this weekend. In Japan, Heather Watson won the title over Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen 7-5, 5-4, 7-6(4), making Heather the first British woman in 24-years to win a WTA title. Laura Robson almost earned the honor three weeks ago, after becoming the first British woman to reach a WTA final in 22-years.
In Linz, Austria – Victoria Azarenka won another WTA title (14th), beating Germany’s Julia Georges 6-3, 6-4 in thre Sunday final. That’s two consecutive titles for Vika, three in 2012 couting Indian Wells. In Grand Slam play, Azarenka’s 2012 was impressive as well, winning the Australian Open, making the 4th round at Roland Garros, she was a semifinalist at Wimbledon, and finalist at the U.S. Open. At the London Games, she won Olympic Gold in Mixed Doubles and Bronze in singles. Next up for Vika, the WTA Championships in Turkey starting October 23rd.
This week, the ladies are in Moscow and Luxembourg, while the guys are in Stockholm and Vienna.
Here’s another video from the 2012 US Open that aired before the Men’s Singles Semifinal with Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych – featuring my voiceover, written by Chris Granozio and produced by Charles Tabano…
