VALENCIA, Spain (AP) – Andy Murray saved five match points before fighting back to beat Tommy Robredo 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8) in a gruelling Valencia Open final yesterday.
Last month, Murray also saved five match points against the Spaniard on his way to winning the final in Shenzhen, China. This time, he had to do it in front of Robredo’s home fans, who ended up applauding the effort made by both players on Valencia’s indoor hard court.
Robredo came from a break down in the second set to force a tiebreaker that could have earned him his first win against Murray since 2007. Murray looked flustered, slamming his racket down twice, but he managed to save two match points before levelling at a set each.
The Briton then saved three more match points in the final tiebreaker before hitting a decisive backhand to win in three hours, 20 minutes, making it the longest final on the ATP circuit this year. Murray embraced Robredo over the net at the finish.
“I know it was an incredible match,” Murray said. “The tennis at the end and in the second set was high level. I played well at the right moments.”
It was Murray’s 31st career title and second in Valencia after winning in 2009.
The two-time grand slam winner will rise to No. 5 in the rankings with his third title of the year, after he also beat David Ferrer last weekend to win in Vienna.
