TORONTO — Andy Murray won his second straight Rogers Cup title on Sunday, snapping a three-match losing streak to Roger Federer in the process, 7-5, 7-5 at Rexall Centre.
Play was delayed several times by rain on the grounds of York University, during a muggy afternoon.
The win capped off an impressive week for the 23-year-old Scot, having knocked off a red-hot David Nalbandian earlier in the week, and then world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s semi-final.
“It’s one of the best weeks I’ve ever had,” Murray said following the match. “It’s the first time I’ve beaten Roger in a final, and I hope to get the chance again in a few weeks at the U.S. Open.”
Murray — who will retain his No. 4 ranking — jumped out to a quick start in the first set, breaking Federer in the first game of the match and racing out to a 3-0 lead. He maintained the lead until Federer broke back at 5-4 after Murray double-faulted on break point.
After Federer got too greedy with a forehand down break point at 5-5, Murray went up 6-5 and then served out the opening set.
In the second set, Murray again went up an early break, before Federer fought back to level the frame at three.
The turning point was at 5-5 of the second set when Murray broke Federer.
Down 5-6 in the second set, and needing to break Murray to extend the match, Federer had a break point at 30-40 but Murray responded with two clutch aces before Federer went long with a forehand return on match point.
“It’s nice in those situations to be able to go for a big serve and get a free point if you can,” Murray said. “The ace at deuce, was I think, the fastest serve I’ve ever hit.”
By defeating Federer and Nadal in the same event, Murray became just the fifth man to do so, the fourth being Nikolay Davydenko last November at the ATP Finals.
“It doesn’t happen that often,” Murray said of the feat. “It’s a tough era, but it’s exciting and challenging. It’s good for the confidence and hopefully I can keep it up.”
The win is Murray’s first since November of last year and he becomes the first man to successfully defend his title in Canada since Andre Agassi in 1995.
As for Federer, by virtue of reaching the final he will surpass Novak Djokovic to re-claim the No. 2 ranking. After failing to reach even the semi-finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this summer, the Swiss legend shook off early rust to post gritty wins over Tomas Berdych and Novak Djokovic to reach the final here.
“I played well (this week), but I didn’t play my best,” Federer said following the match. “I still made the finals though, so overall I’m happy with how I played.
Murray, who dispensed with the services of coach Miles Maclagan in July, takes home the US$443,500 first prize.
Murray scoffed at a question about whether he was surprised to have won this week without the services of a coach.
“You don’t become a worse player just because you don’t have a coach,” he said.
New attendance record
Total attendance for the week was announced at 161,000, a new record topping the previous best of 155,000.
Beginning next year, both the men’s and the women’s event will be “virtually combined” with the tournaments played on the same week, but in different cities. The men will be in Montreal, and the women will be in Toronto.
“I think it’s good for Tennis Canada because the event will be a bigger event, being a combined,” Hale said. “We lose a little bit of broadcast (exposure), with one week instead of two weeks. But other than that, we think it’s going to be absolutely fantastic.”