Andy Murray vs Daniil Medvedev LIVE: Qatar Open result and reaction
Murray’s wait for a first ATP Tour title since Antwerp in 2019 goes on after Medvedev secured back-to-back wins in Doha
Daniil Medvedev maintained his winning roll to beat Andy Murray in the Qatar Open final and claim his second title in successive weeks on Saturday.
Veteran Murray, bidding for his 47th career title but first since 2019, pushed the Russian hard but succumbed 6-4 6-4 in a battle of former world number ones.
Medvedev also triumphed in Rotterdam last week and now has 18 Tour-level titles in his locker.
He started strongly and was immediately into his baseline rhythm to win the majority of the long exchanges, moving into a 4-1 lead with two breaks of serve.
Murray, who saved five match points on Friday against Jiri Lehecka to reach his 71st ATP final, also fell behind in the second set but hit back with a break of serve.
The British three-times Grand Slam champion had the momentum at 4-4 40-0 but Medvedev suddenly rediscovered his brick wall-like resilience to reel off five successive points, sealing a crucial service break as Murray over-cooked a volley.
Former U.S Open champion Medvedev double-faulted on his first match point in the following game but a superb lob completed the job when he had another opportunity soon afterwards against a weary-looking Murray.
“It was a very tough match because it was windy and we struggled for rhythm,” world number eight Medvedev said on court. “Today was a big fight. Sometimes we were both playing bad, sometimes we both played well.”
For Murray, 35, it was his fourth ATP final since returning to the tour after having hip surgery in 2018 and, while he has lost three of those, he remains a force to be reckoned with.
Qatar Open final: Andy Murray vs Daniil Medvedev
Who’s ready for another Murray rollercoaster then?
An incredible run in Qatar comes to an end today, with the biggest test of all.
Murray 9/2 to win today, Medvedev very short at 1/8.
If you think Murray can save a match point AND win, well, you can back it at 20/1.
Qatar Open: Andy Murray on the art of saving match points
“There is a certain calmness to those situations because you have been in them a lot in a short period of time,” Andy Murray said on those crucial match points saved.
“You know how you need to try and play and it becomes a little bit of a habit.”
Carlos Alcaraz on expectation to fight Novak Djokovic for world No 1
Carlos Alcaraz insists there is no “pressure” to battle Novak Djokovic for the world No 1 ranking.
“I am not a kid or a player who is happy with little things,” Alcaraz said.
“I always want more, and we will look for it this week. The truth is that I don’t feel any pressure to fight with [Novak] Djokovic to be the No. 1.
“The truth is that I hope to have a beautiful year with beautiful tournaments, to be honest. I’ll have a little pressure because I’ll defend some important titles and play at a great level.
“But as I have said before, I’ll have to play match by match, enjoying it, more than having results. That is what I hope.”
Novak Djokovic refuses to call Carlos Alcaraz 'biggest rival’
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has cooled talk of a rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, insisting that Rafael Nadal still deserves to be his “biggest rival” on the ATP Tour.
“Alcaraz is playing at a great level,” Djokovic said in Belgrade. “I mean, especially after several months of absence from the tour with injuries that he was struggling with.
“It’s amazing that he is able to find the top level right away. That is actually a characteristic of a mature player. He doesn’t have so much experience, but he is showing maturity very early on, and with the way he handles himself on and off the court.
“He is a great guy and has a very good team of people around him. He deserves all his success and he is, I think, bringing some new, fresh energy into tennis, you know. He is a very dynamic player and personality and is very liked all around the world. So he deserves everything.
“I cannot call him my main rival. My main rival is still Nadal, you know, even though Alcaraz is obviously No. 2 [in the world rankings]. He was No. 1, he has won a Slam.
“He is arguably the next biggest thing in our sport or he is already there. I just feel the rivalry with Nadal is something that is difficult to eliminate just because someone is doing great things in the last year and a half, you know.“Nadal has been the biggest rival, and he probably will remain the biggest rival I ever had in my career.”
Qatar Open: Judy Murray reacts to Andy Murray’s semi-final win
Novak Djokovic hoping for special permission to play in Indian Wells and Miami
World number one Novak Djokovic is hopeful of being given special permission to play the upcoming tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
Djokovic is currently unable to enter the United States as he is unvaccinated against Covid-19.
But, with current restrictions due to end in April, Djokovic wants dispensation to enter the country and play the ‘Sunshine Double’.
“I’m waiting for a reply, it’s not on me. I will know soon,” Djokovic, who has not played in America since 2021, said at a press conference in Belgrade on Wednesday. “Everything is in process. I’m thankful to the Indian Wells and Miami tournament and communities for their support publicly.
“They would like me to be able to play in their tournaments. I’m very thankful for that because I have a big desire to be there, I haven’t played there for a couple of years. I’m looking forward to a positive decision coming soon, but it’s not in my hands. Right now that is all that I can say.
“All I can do is hope at the moment. My position is the same, I wish for a positive result.”
Qatar Open: Andy Murray reacts to reaching final
“I don’t know, that was one of the most amazing turnarounds I’ve had in my career,” he said.
“I knew it was his first time serving for a final so I had to keep the pressure on because I know how difficult it can be to serve matches like that out, but I have no idea how I managed to turn that one around.
“I feel all right just now although obviously the adrenaline is pumping after a match like that.
“I’m sure there’ll be a bit of fatigue tomorrow but I have a great team behind me. My physio has a job on his hands tonight.”
Andy Murray saves five match points to reach Qatar Open final
Andy Murray saved five match points in yet another marathon encounter to somehow reach the final of the Qatar Open.
The two-time Wimbledon champion went the distance again – all six of his wins this year have gone to deciding sets – in an astonishing 6-0 3-6 7-6 (6) victory over rising Czech star Jiri Lehecka.
Serving at 5-3 down in the decider, Murray had to save two match points before Lehecka moved 40-0 up on his own serve in the next game.
What happened next was scarcely believable, even by Murray’s standards, as he repelled all three match points to level the set at 5-5, before beating a shellshocked Lehecka in the tie-break.
“I don’t know, that was one of the most amazing turnarounds I’ve had in my career,” the 35-year-old Scot said on Amazon Prime.
Andy Murray saves five match points to reach Qatar Open final
After his latest epic encounter with Jiri Lehecka, Murray will face Daniil Medvedev or Felix Auger-Aliassime in Saturday’s final
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