Andy Murray's preparation for the US Open remained right on course last night as he clinched his first title of 2010 with a magnificent straights-set victory over Roger Federer in the final of the ATP Rogers Cup.
The defending champion prevailed 7-5, 7-5 after outlasting the former world No 1 in a match which was severely disrupted by two lengthy rain delays.
The win improved Murray's record against the Swiss ace to seven victories from their 12 meetings and also gave him an element of revenge after he was comprehensively beaten in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year.
It has taken the Scot some time to recover from that Melbourne setback but he was in sparkling form in Canada and appears in peak condition as he bids to land his first grand slam crown at the US Open which gets under way in two weeks.
Murray told atptour.com: "It was good for me to win today ? three good results in a row against (David) Nalbandian, Rafa (Nadal) and Roger, so that will give me confidence for next week.
"The US Open is the main goal but this is a good start. I played five days in a row from Wednesday ? all the matches right in the heat of the day so it was good for me physically.
"I'll try to keep it going in Cincinnati (at this week's Cincinnati Masters) but the most important thing is getting ready for the US Open."
When the weather relented it was Murray who forced the issue, his new-found aggressive approach paying dividends against a strangely subdued Federer.
"It was very difficult today," said the 23-year-old. "I was up a lot in the first set and probably should have won it a bit easier. I managed to stay tough mentally, which is always tough against Roger because he started to play some great tennis, but it's a great way to finish the week ? I played very well.
"I think (the rain delays) affected both of us. It is difficult. It broke our momentum.
"Roger was playing better at the end of the first set and when we came back out I broke him straightaway.
"It affected both of us a little bit but I managed to stay strong in the end."
* PA
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
