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Andy Murray established his credentials as a strong favourite for the Australian Open in Melbourne taking command late in the first set before driving past an impressive Grigor Dimitrov, who more than held his own in his first tour level final at the Brisbane International, inside the Queensland Tennis Centre. Murray overcame deficits in both sets to prevail over the Bulgarian 7-6, 6-4 and take his 25th career title in an hour and 31 minutes.
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Dimitrov scored impressive victories in the run-up to his maiden tour final – results over Milos Raonic and Jurgen Melzer must have done his confidence some good. But his opponent was the formidable world No.3 who practically lives in these climes, having made as many as 37 finals and winning 24 of those matches. Murray was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Alexander Dolgopolov in this tournament last year. For Dimitrov, it was a substantive challenge but the Stockholm resident is widely believed to possess the tools to stand up to these situations. This was an intriguing test for the up and coming player.
In the early stages, Grigor Dimitrov showcased why he is rated so high on potential with a destructive array of strokes on either flank that left the defending champion in disarray. At 30-0 in the very first game, the Bulgarian offered a taste of what was to follow when he drew Murray out of position before launching into a vicious forehand up the line winner that drew a gasp of appreciation from the packed Pat Rafter Arena. It was an explosive start and the sheer brilliance from across the net seemed to unsettle the Scot. Serving at 15-15 in the next game, Murray found the net off a simple forehand and followed it with a double fault to offer the first break points of the match. In an uncharacteristic display of tentativeness, the Scot dumped another simple forehand in the net to lose his serve.
The world No. 48 displayed skill and smartness in equal measure as he controlled the rallies, often drawing his more seasoned rival into a position of discomfort either by the net or wide off the deuce court. Dimitrov was able to generate considerable pace even when he was running behind the ball on the ad-court to bring his forehand into play. Murray is an intelligent player and his inability to dictate terms was bothering the Scot. Soon, the Bulgarian offered help.
Dimitrov exposed fraying nerves when he shanked a forehand at 15-30 in the ninth game to present an opportunity for the Scot to weave his way back into the set. The Bulgarian resorted to attack to save the first break point with an overhead smash but failed to get past the net on the next point to surrender the break. Dimitrov offered resistance to push Murray to three deuces in the next game, but the Scot grit his teeth to prevail and restore parity.
The Bulgarian recovered to hold serve with ease before piling the pressure on his opponent in the twelfth game. Murray invited trouble with a double fault to gift a set point, but a 204kmph ace saved the moment for the Scot. Murray drew first blood in the tie-break when he raced to a 3-0 lead. A wild backhand swipe that went wide resulted in the second mini-break and the Scot rode the momentum to blank the Bulgarian in the breaker and clinch the set after being behind for much of it. It was a classic display of that elusive bridge between undeniable promise and the challenge of delivering in the key moments. Murray himself has been a student for long, before finally laying the ghosts to rest last year with his stirring triumph at the Olympics followed by that maiden grand slam victory at the Flushing Meadows.
The second set stayed on serve to the sixth game, but Murray blinked first again when he found the net with his backhand to offer break point to the Bulgarian. But Dimitrov chose the moment to commit his 22nd unforced error – a pulled backhand that sailed wide gave Murray a brief reprieve. Encouraged by the whiff of an opportunity, Dimitrov pressed on and eventually managed to squeeze the door open again with a couple of well timed forehand winners to edge ahead 4-3. But Murray wasn’t to be outdone – an inside out forehand cross-court winner earned the break point back. Murray then showcased why he was the master on the day when he drew Dimitrov to the net before passing him with a brilliant backhand up the line winner.
The Scot held at love to reach within a game of successfully defending his title. Dimitrov made a couple of double faults to suggest that the occasion was getting the better of him. Murray could smell the metal by now and at 30-30 in the tenth game, Dimitrov ran around to go up the line but failed to clear the net with his forehand and Murray had championship point. Murray embraced victory when Dimitrov pulled his backhand wide on the next point to end the well contested finals It was a valiant effort from Dimitrov, who did all he could to prevent his opponent from retaining the Rory Emerson trophy. In the end, Murray’s considerable vault of experience proved to be the big difference as he saw off the spirited challenge from his promising challenger.
There was an upset of sorts in the doubles final – Spaniard Tommy Robredo and Brazilian Marcelo Melo clinched the title with a memorable 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 comeback against the top seeded American Eric Butorac and Aussie Paul Hanley in an interesting three set encounter.
