Andy Murray beat Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-5 after 1 hour and 50 minutes with a break in each set the semifinal of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships.
Murray faced Nadal 24 times on the ATP Tour, but they have have not met on the court since the semifinal of the 2016 edition of the Madrid Mutua Open. Murray joked before the match he hoped he and Nadal could put on a good performance for a couple of old guys.
Nadal held his first two service games to love and earned a break point in the third game, but Murray saved it before breaking in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead after Nadal netted a backhand. The two-time Olympic champion hit an ace to hold his serve. Nadal won his service game with a smash winner in the eighth game. Murray served out the opening set 6-3 with an unreturned serve.
Nadal saved two break points with service winners in the first game of the second set. The Spaniard hit an ace in the third game to take a 2-1 lead.
Nadal saved two break points in the fifth game. After two forehand winners from Nadal, Murray fended off a break point to draw level to 4-4. Nadal held serve from 0-30 down in the ninth game. Murray converted his second break point in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead, as Nadal sent a backhand long. The Scotsman held at 30 to serve out the win after 1 hour and 50 minutes.
“It is special to be back in competition at a place I enjoy a lot. It had been a while since we played against each other. I am happy to see Andy playing at this level after everything he went through. For me it’s a comeback. It wasn’t a bad match for me. After a long time on a professional court, I have so positive feelings”, said Nadal.
Murray is seeking his third title at the Mubadala tournament against Andrey Rublev who beat Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-4 in a thrilling semifinal match.
“Me and Rafa have played so many tough matches over the years. Both of us have gone through injury troubles and it’s just great to have the opportunity to be with him on court again”, said Murray.
Both Rublev and Shapovalov traded holds of serve in the opening set. Shapovalov fended off the only four break points in a long fourth game. Rublev capitalised on an early mini-break to win the tie-break 7-5.
Shapovalov earned an early break and held his next service games to seal the second set 6-3.
Neither player was able to earn a break in the third set until Rublev earned a match point at 4-5. Rublev sealed the win after a double fault from Shapovalov.
Taylor Fritz beat Dan Evans 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 11-9 to take the match for fifth place. Fritz sealed the tie-break of the first set 7-5 before Evans drew level by winning the second set with a single break. Fritz win the Match tie-break 11-9.
