Murray Eyes Brisbane Repeat Against Baby Federer Dimitrov; Gasquet Opens Season With Doha Title
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Andy Murray is showing no signs of letting down after a career 2012 season. In his first event of year the Scot finds himself in the Brisbane final as the heavy favorite against the man they call Baby Federer, Grigor Dimitrov.
Murray advanced when Top 10 hope and oft-injured Kei Nishikori had to withdraw from the match with a bad knee. Murray, who was in control of the match leading 6-4, 2-0, is looking forward to showdown Sunday.
“Grigor plays with a lot of variety,” Murray said. “He can play a lot of shots. He’s one of the few guys coming through that’s got a single-handed backhand as well, so he uses a lot more slice than the others.”
What Murray meant to say is that Dimitrov plays just like Roger Federer.
Murray of course leads Federer 10-9 in their series, so it figures that should help him against Dimitrov who he beat in Bangkok a few years ago.
“I have nothing to lose tomorrow,” said Dimitrov after edging Marcos Baghdatis 7-5 in the third set tiebreaker. “I just want to go out there and compose myself and say, ‘Okay, it’s your first final. Don’t be nervous, at least.’ I think it’s going to be a good match. It doesn’t matter who I play.”
Well, Grigor, I hate to break it to you but you do have something to lose, it’s called your FIRST TITLE. That said, I do think Murray wins his 25th trophy. But good for Grigor showing some promise.
The women already crowned their Brisbane champ and no surprise it’s Serena who whipped Anastasia P last night. Serena has won 35 of 36 matches since that first round French Open defeat. With such a mark it will be tough to find anyone picking against her in Melbourne. I won’t be.
In Doha, the first Baby Federer, Richard Gasquet, became the ATP’s first title winner of the new season after stopping Nikolay Davydenko’s resurgence 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
“I’m really happy with the way I played and fought,” said Gasquet. “He was playing fast in the first set. I just try to keep focused and to fight a lot, and I did it. I’m really happy with the way I won. It’s important for me to win the final.”
The 31-year-old Russian actually led 6-4, 4-2 with multiple break chances for 5-2 before the collapse.
“I think I was a little bit fresher than him in the third set, but he was playing so fast he could break me in the second game in the third, so could happen,” Gasquet said. “He could win, too. We were so close together, so it was a big match, a big fight.”
And in Chennai, Janko Tipsarevic is in the final against someone named Roberto Bautista Agut. The 24-year-old Bautista Agut upset top seed Tomas Berdych on Friday, and backed it up today with a semifinal win over Benoit Paire to take his spot in his first career ATP final.
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