Andy Murray has continued his unbeaten start to this year’s grass season by winning his second Challenger title in as many weeks at the Nottingham Open on Sunday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion beat French rising star Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4, in under two hours. Murray is the oldest man in ATP history to have won multiple Challenger titles on grass at the age of 36. Last week he won the Surbiton Open which was his first title on the surface in seven years.
“It was a really good week. I really enjoyed my time here. The courts were playing brilliantly. Thanks to all the ground staff for the job they have been doing,” Murray said during the trophy ceremony.
“I got better as the week got on. Today was quite a physical match with a lot of long rallies but I’m glad that I managed to get through.”
It appears that the decision of the former world No.1 to skip the French Open to focus on Wimbledon is paying off. He is now on a 10-match winning streak and has only dropped one set which was against Jason Kubler in Surbiton. This is his best streak on the Tour since returning to competitive action following hip resurfacing surgery.
Watching Murray from the stands was his children and wife who he didn’t know were attending. The first time he spotted them was during his on-court interview afterwards.
“My family has been unbelievably supportive of me continuing my career when they could have told me to stop, I appreciate it.” He said. “Also my team, I need all of their help to keep me motivated. My physio for keeping my body together. I appreciate my team and my family for moments like this.”
Meanwhile, runner-up Cazaux also has a reason to celebrate. The 20-year-old is set to break into the top 150 on Monday for the first time in his career. He is a former world No.4 junior who reached the final of the 2020 Australian Open boy’s tournament.
“It was a big tournament for me, a long tournament because I started in qualifying,” said Cazaux.
“It was my first pro tournament on the grass and a very good experience. I enjoyed every moment on the grass courts.’
“My focus will now be on the Wimbledon qualifying and hopefully I might be able to take my revenge (against Murray). “
There will be little time to rest for Murray who says he is ‘pumped’ heading into Wimbledon. His next tournament will be Queen’s where he will play seventh seed Alex de Minaur in the first round.
