Selby: This is for you, Terry
IT WAS not quite the all-conquering display of a defending champion but Andy Murray is still in business at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Twelve months ago, he played the clay-court match of his life to beat Rafael Nadal in the final here and win his first Masters title on the slow red dirt. Back in town to see if he can do it again, he huffed and puffed for more than two hours last night to beat Radek Stepanek 7-6, 3-6, 6-1.
At times it was not pretty but the world No 2 lived to fight another day and will now face Pablo Carreno Busta tomorrow in the third round.
Stepanek is the last man anyone would want to face in their opening match at altitude, in tricky conditions and with a trophy to defend.
The Czech may be 37 and he may have a world ranking of 148 but he is old school; he does everything a little differently. He has the stamina of a man half his age, he can play from any quarter of the court, he loves to attack the net and he has the very annoying habit of playing to the gallery. Whenever he plays a winning shot, he loves to turn to the crowd and demand their applause.
As Murray was being given the runaround, his mood was not improved by the sight of Stepanek conducting the crowd and trying to get them to cheer just a little louder for the supposed underdog.
The Czech came to the court on a roll – he had won two matches in the qualifying competition – and while Murray worked on the practise courts, enjoying a bye in the first round that befits the No2 seed, Stepanek was beating Vasek Pospisil.
Stepanek, then, was accustomed to the conditions at the Caja Magica, he felt at home in the thin air where the ball flies a little faster – Madrid is 667 metres above sea level – while Murray was still finding MARK SELBY has dedicated his latest Crucible triumph to the memory of his father-in-law, Terry.
The world No1 claimed a second world title with an 18-14 win over China’s Ding Junhui in Monday night’s Betfred World Championship final.
There was joy at a second success on snooker’s biggest stage, just two years after he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Sheffield showpiece. But as he potted the winning balls, Selby pointed to his wife Vikki in the crowd.
Her father, who died in September, had played a major role in his life.
Selby’s own father, David, succumbed to cancer in 1999, seven years after his wife had walked out to leave him to bring up Mark and his brother alone.
Selby said: “I’ve not really got that much family so I class Vikki’s family as my own. Two years ago when I first won it her dad was here watching, so it was quite emotional knowing he would not be there this time. I knew Vikki would be emotional.
“But I’m sure he was looking down and if this win was for anyone, then it was for Terry.”
Selby hardly looked well set to claim a first title of the season given the emotional trauma was compounded by a long-term neck injury that at one stage threatened his career.
Such trials have ensured Selby takes nothing for granted, and makes him unlikely to fritter away the £330,000 he pocketed – the biggest cheque in snooker history.
He said: “One day I could wake up and the injury could be back and mean I may never be able to play again.
“So there’s no guarantee you’re going to win any tournament again and it’s nice to have something to fall back on.
“I’m not too flash and blase with money.”
‘He looked like a champion in the decider’