Wawrinka leads tributes to ‘amazing’ champ Murray
Andy Murray’s powers of recovery were hailed yesterday as the Scot won his first ATP Tour singles title in more than two and a half years – with the man he defeated in the final at the european open in antwerp leading the tributes.
Murray underwent careersaving hip surgery in January and the event in Belgium was only his seventh tournament since returning to the singles circuit. But he defeated Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in yesterday’s final and completed a remarkable turnaround only ten months after telling a press conference in Australia that he reckoned his career was over.
“I think the tennis world, including me, was really sad in Australia after that press conference,” Wawrinka told Murray in his on-court interview. “To see you back at this level, it’s amazing. We’re all really happy. I’m sad I lost today but I’m really happy to see you back. you’ re an amazing champion and you deserve that .”
Greg Rusedski, the former British No 1, was among a host of people who took to social media to congratulate Murray on his victory. “Can’t believe Andy Murray has won his first ATP singles title with a metal hip. Incredible effort,” Rusedski said on Twitter. “What a competitor to win from a set and a break down against Stan the man. Who would have believed it? Amazing.”
MOTHERWELL 0
ABERDEEN 3
Cosgrove 15, Mcginn 53, Vyner 60 Aberdeen have shown the character and determination Derek Mcinnes demanded from his players since last month’s embarrassing 5-0 thrashing at Ibrox but Zak Vyner knows Sunday’s visit from Celtic will be the defining test of that recovery.
The player on a season-long loan from Bristol City certainly proved his versatility as someone already comfortable in any position across the backline excelled along side regular left-back Greg Leigh in a makeshift midfield.
It was a performance that included a spectacular strike from 25 yards on the hour mark to compliment equally impressive efforts from Sam Cosgrove early in the first half, and Niall Mcginn at the start of the second.
The fact the winning margin could have been even greater delighted their manager, especially given the way his men approached a fixture Mcinnes has admitted they have been bullied out of at times in the past.
Instead they showed the sort of determination and aggression that dug out a point against Hibernian in difficult circumstances before the international break to move back to within a point of thirdplaced Motherwell.
However, Vyner knows the importance of proving themselves against a Celtic side who have been vulnerable on their travels lately. “It’s a big game coming up for us now on Sunday,” he said.
“What we have to do is continue to focus on our performance. We’re at home, the crowd will be right behind us and we have to show the aggression we showed here and against Hibs.
“That time we had to show great character to get back into the game after being a man down and then two men down. Here we were clinical when it mattered to prove we’ve got a quality team even with the guys who are out.”
By contrast, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson clung to the belief that his team would have won if James Scott’s early penalty hadn’t been saved and captain Peter Hartley wasn’t forced off with a head injury shortly afterwards.
More significantly though, no team in the Premiership has conceded more goals at
home while all three league defeats and their Betfred Cup exit this season have come at Fir Park, leaving defender Declan Gallagher in no mood for excuses.
“The gaffer is obviously saying he felt a few of the boys weren’t quite at it, but we came back from the last international break and beat Hearts at Tynecastle,” said the recent Scotland squad call-up.
“There are always ups and downs in football and today is one of the downs but we are still third in the league so it is not all negative. Now we have to try and kick on again.”
Like Aberdeen, that attempt comes against Old Firm opposition when they travel to Ibrox to face Rangers on Sunday.