Red Hot Murray Secures Historic Triumph

AFP/Getty ImagesAndy Murray in St. Petersburg

Top-seeded Scot Andy Murray (pictured) successfully defended his St. Petersburg Open title on Sunday, after defeating Kazakhstani qualifier Andrey Golubev 6-1, 6-1 in just 56 minutes.

It was the shortest final on the ATP circuit this year, and the second shortest final in terms of games (14) after Mikhail Youzhny defeated Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 at the Chennai Open in January.

It was also the fewest games Murray has lost in a match this season, since the first match he played in Doha where he beat Olivier Rochus 6-0, 6-2.

"I think he started the match a bit nervous and I was playing consistent from the baseline," said Murray, who is the first British player to win back-to-back tour level titles since Mark Cox did it in March 1975 at WCT/London and WCT/Washington. "I had a lot of pressure coming into this match. I was the favorite and he didn't have anything to lose. The match was close in the beginning of both sets but once I was able to take the lead I felt more comfortable."

He has also defended an ATP title for the second time in his career, after clinching the San Jose trophy in 2006 (d. Hewitt) and 2007 (d. Karlovic).

"I'm happy to defend my title in St Petersburg,” said Murray. “I like to play indoors. I reached my first ATP final indoors in Bangkok and then won my first ATP title in San Jose."

Murray has won five titles this year – second only to ATP World No. 1 Nadal with eight trophies – and holds a 53-14 match record. He is one of five players to register at least 50 wins in 2008.

The Dunblane native is on a 12-match winning streak, having clinched his second ATP Masters Series shield in Madrid (d. Simon) last week. He has won 18 of his last 19 matches, since a first round loss to Yen-Hsun Lu at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Murray, currently No. 4 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, has also won ATP titles at Doha (d. Wawrinka), Marseille (d. Ancic) and ATP Masters Series Cincinnati (d. Djokovic). Last month he advanced to his first Grand Slam final at the US Open (l. to Federer).

The British No. 1 has already clinched a spot at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai next month. He improved to 8-5 lifetime in ATP finals (6-2 indoors).

Golubev, 21, had his serve broken in the fourth and sixth games of the 29-minute first set and in the third, fifth and seventh games of the second set.

"I was playing well all week but today I was just off. I think I ran out of fuel," said Golubev. “I felt very tired. This match was good for me to compare my game to the top players in the world. Murray didn't make any mistakes and was more stable during the entire match, especially on his serve. I'm still more happy than disappointed. Obviously I feel a bit frustrated not to play the way I wanted. But overall I'm very happy with the week."

Having started the week at No. 150 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, Golubev will rise to around a career-high No. 112 when the new list is published on Monday. "Golubev is a good player," said Murray. "I think he can be a Top 50 player in the future."

Murray collected 250 South African Airways ATP Rankings points and earned $171,000 in prize money, while first-time ATP finalist Golubev picked up 175 ranking points and $92,400.