Andy Murray has boosted his chances of reaching world No.1 before the end of the year after defeating Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(1), 6-1, in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
Playing in his 21st Masters 1000 final Murray was the standout favourite against Bautista Agut, who was playing in his first. In their two previous meetings on the tour the world No.2 clinched both wins in straight sets.
Regardless of the favourite label, Murray had to contend with some world class shots from his Spanish opponent, particularly on the forehand side. With little to distinguish between both players during the first six games of the match, an animated Murray wasn’t afraid to show his emotions as he became frustrated with parts of his performance. The Brit grabbed his first breakthrough after back-to-back errors from Bautista Agut enabled him to break for a 4-3 lead. Murray then had a trio of chances to close the set out 6-4, but failed to convert as a more focused and calm Bautista Agut broke back with the help of another winning forehand shot.
Following the blip by Murray, he soon regained his control in the match during a one-sided tiebreaker. Once again a duo of errors (one backhand and one forehand) from the 15th seed aided the Brit to race to a 6-1 lead before he claimed the set with a double handed backhand cross court winner.
Continuing his momentum from the tie-break, the Wimbledon champion got off to an almost perfect start in the second set by winning eight out of nine points to stroll to a set and a 2-0 lead. Trading breaks with Bautista Agut, Murray regain his stronghold in the match after a poor service game from the Spaniard moved him to three games away from the title. As the errors continued to mount from his opponent, it was only a matter of time before the 29-year-old won his 13th Masters title. Serving for the title Murray claimed his third Shanghai title with a smash at the net.
Throughout the 96-minute encounter the world No.2 hit eight aces, 22 winners and 19 unforced errors to win his sixth title since May.
“The last few months I played very well in all of the tournaments. I’m obviously happy to back in the final against here (Shanghai).” Murray said during his trophy ceremony. “I’ve been coming to shanghai for ten years and I have enjoyed it every year.”
The race to world No.1
Winning back-to-back titles in Asia, Murray could potentially become world No.1 before next month’s ATP Finals. The Brit could potentially grab an extra 500 points at the Vienna Open (when Djokovic isn’t playing) and a run to the title at the final Masters event of the year in Paris could seal the achievement if Djokovic doesn’t reach the final.
Reason it can happen so soon is that last year’s ATP World Tour final points drop off BEFORE the tournament starts. The breakdown here: pic.twitter.com/qRenbc08OQ
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) 16 October 2016
As a potential place at the top of the rankings awaits Murray, the Brit has admitted that he is targeting the world No.1 position at the start of next year instead at the end of this.
“My goal wasn’t to finish Number one at the end of this year. Obviously the last few months I have played very well.” Said Murray.
“I think there is an opportunity at the early part of next year because I didn’t play any tournaments in February because of the baby coming and I didn’t play well during Indian Wells and Miami. That will be the time of the year where I don’t have many points to defend and have the chance to do it (reach No.1).”
Bautista Agut’s breakthrough
Apart from Murray’s Asian success, it was also a breakthrough tournament for Bautista Agut. Claiming his first ever win over a world No.1 player earlier this week to reach his maiden Masters final, the 28-year-old is set to rise to a ranking high of 13th in the world.
“I gave everything on this court and I really enjoyed the conditions here in Shanghai.” Said Bautista Agut. “I enjoyed the atmosphere . Every day I felt like I gave everything and today was no less.”
Bautista Agut, who is only the fourth Spanish man in history to reach a Masters final, also praised Murray’s current state of play.
“Andy is playing really good tennis and he is in amazing form.” He said.
Andy Murray’s record since the 2016 Monte Carlo Masters
Monte Carlo- SF
Madrid- F
Roma-W
Roland Garros-F
Queens-W
Wimbledon-W
Rio Olympics-W
Cincinatti-F
US Open-QF
Beijing-W
Shanghai-W
