Murray splits the ranking difference between Roger, Rafa (Lead)
August 16th, 2009 - 7:56 pm ICT by IANS
Montreal, Aug 16 (DPA) Andy Murray split the difference between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the Scot shot to the number two Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ranking defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6(8) for a place in the finals at the Montreal Masters Saturday.
Murray will face a tough test Sunday when he plays Argentine Juan Del Potro, who stopped Andy Roddick for the second time in less than a week with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory highlighted by 19 aces.
“I’m so happy to be in another final,” said the sixth-ranked Argentine, who beat Roddick in last weekend’s Washington final. “It’s a great sensation. Andy and I are both very strong on serve. I just played better than him at crucial points.”
Del Potro fought back in the tenth game of the third set to hold form 0-30, saving a Roddick match point and finishing with a pair of aces for 5-all.
The Argentine then broke for 6-5 on the American’s double-fault and served out the tight victory after two hours, six minutes a game later on his second opportunity.
Murray’s victory means the 23-year-old Scot will stand second in Monday’s ATP list behind Federer. Nadal, who missed two and a half months as he rested injured knees, was bumped down to third.
“I played consistently well this year, so bar winning a Slam, I’ve done enough to justify being number two and getting closer to hopefully one day becoming number one - it’s one of my goals,” said Murray.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to this stage, and I keep working hard to go one step farther.”
“In terms of rankings it’s the biggest step that I’ve made so far,” said Murray, who is bidding for a fifth title of the season.
Nadal, beaten in the Montreal quarter-finals Friday by Del Potro, took over number one from Federer last August before the Beijing Olympics but lost it after being beaten in the French Open fourth round by Robin Soderling.
“Andy’s a very good player and it’s tough to go to the net every time against him,” said Tsonga. “But that’s fine, I’m okay with that.”
Murray’s move will mark the first time in four years that someone other than Federer or Nadal has entered the top two on the ranking list.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt moved to second behind Federer in July 2005 for a brief period.
- Nadal toppled from number two as Murray beats Tsonga - Aug 16, 2009
- Murray wears down Del Potro to lift Montreal title - Aug 17, 2009
- Del Potro humbles Nadal to reach US Open final - Sep 14, 2009
- Nadal back on top in ATP rankings after Paris triumph - Jun 07, 2010
- Federer, Nadal reach Montreal quarter-finals in style - Aug 14, 2009
- Federer-Berdych set-up Madrid Open final - May 13, 2012
- Top 8 have equal chance of winning London Tour Finals: Federer - Nov 12, 2011
- Federer maintains ATP lead; Miami champion Roddick climbs - Apr 05, 2010
- Indian Wells: Federer to face Del Potro in quarters - Mar 15, 2012
- Federer clinches 70th career title at ATP Finals - Nov 28, 2011
- Nadal leads in unchanged ATP top 10 - Jul 12, 2010
- Federer, Nadal fail to fire in Montreal - Aug 15, 2009
- Nadal increases ATP rankings lead with Wimbledon trophy - Jul 05, 2010
- Djokovic ends seven year Federer-Nadal domination at the top - Jul 04, 2011
- Federer demolishes Nadal to go into ATP Finals last four - Nov 23, 2011
Tags: andy murray, andy roddick, association of tennis professionals, atp ranking, beijing olympics, del potro, double fault, french open, jo wilfried tsonga, match point, pair of aces, quarter finals, rafa, rafael nadal, robin soderling, roger federer, roger federer and rafael nadal, six minutes, tenth game, wilfried