Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev. AFP
Doha: Former World No. 1 and two time champion Andy Murray continued his masterclass at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open as he ousted World No. 16 Alexander Zverev with a grueling 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 win last night.
The victory pits the wild card entrant against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, who defeated eighth seed Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-2, 6-4 earlier yesterday, in today’s last-eight clash.
Also yesterday, top seed Andrey Rublev was forced to rally from a set down as he defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(6) to advance while second-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from a slow start to reach the quarter-finals with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Australian Jason Kubler in two hours and 16 minutes.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev returns the ball to Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor. AFP
At the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, three-time Grand Slam winner Murray came close to losing the battle twice in the decisive set but he came back strongly on both the occasions to stay alive.
After surviving a 10th game of the decider, Murray broke former World No. 2 Zverev in the next game before earning the crucial service break and closing out with a backhand winner as spectators, including his mother Judy Murray burst with joy.
“Alex is a top player. He’s a great competitor. He always fights right till the end. It’s one of his biggest strengths. So even once I got that tight first set, he kept going for it. And, you know, the third set I was really hanging on. He was creating more of the chances and was a better player for large parts of that, but I managed to stay strong, kept fighting and yeah, got the break at the end and closed it out,” Murray, who lifted the Golden Falcon Trophy in 2008 and 2009, said after the thriller which stretched past three-hours.
Murray, who has never played against his next opponent Muller, the World No.170, said he will make a cautious approach against the Frenchman.
“Yes. (Muller is) not so familiar. But, you know, he’s obviously had a good week this week coming through qualifying. He will have played sort of four matches now. So obviously likes these conditions. You know, my coach will obviously watch some video and stuff tonight to get a bit more familiar with his game. But yeah, it’s an opportunity for me in the quarters tomorrow and time to rest up and get ready for that one,” the Briton said.
Meanwhile, World No. 5 Rublev, who clinched the Doha title in 2020, was in danger of suffering his fourth opening-round exit in five outings this year. However, the 25-year-old Russian fought his way back from 2-5 in the third set.
Rublev saved three match points on the Griekspoor serve in the ninth game of the third set and needed three match points of his own in the ensuing tie-break to clinch victory.
Rublev said he was lucky to have beaten Griekspoor, who had reached the semi-finals in the ATP Rotterdam Open less than two weeks ago.
“I guess I was lucky that he’s coming from Rotterdam. I was out racing and he won the first match seven, six and a third. He had tough matches in Rotterdam, three sets, and he came straight away here without rest. So obviously mentally for him was super tough. And maybe that’s why I was able to break up in the most important moment that if he would be fresh, I think it will be no chance. So it was a was one more time lucky today,” Rublev said.
He next plays last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up Jiri Lehecka, of the Czech Republic who defeated Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland 6-2, 7-6 (2).
