HEAD Player Andy Murray Captures Second Successive Masters Series Title
October 20, 2008
Austria – Kennelbach – October 2008 – HEAD player Andy Murray captured his second successive Masters Series title against HEAD player Gilles Simon and a stunning upset over World No. 2 Roger Federer at the Mutua Madrilena Masters in Madrid. Murray played a hard-fought match against Simon in the finals eventually winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(6).
“After a tough week of competition, it feels great to be able to capture the Masters Series title,” said Murray. “My last two matches were not easy but, in the finals, I was able to find enough in me to put away Simon and stay away from a third set.”
On his way to the finals, Murray, who plays with a MicroGEL Radical MP, stunned World No. 2 Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to earn his third career victory against his opponent.
Despite losing to Murray in the finals, fellow HEAD player Gilles Simon enjoyed a successful weekend upsetting World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in a close quarterfinals match 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6). Simon, who plays with a MicroGEL Prestige MP, also defeated HEAD player Ivo Karlovic, who bested World No. 3 Novak Djokovic the round before, to advance to the quarterfinals.
“I played a great match against Murray but just wasn’t able to force a third set,” said Simon. “I would have loved to have come away with a victory but, overall, I had a good weekend, defeating Nadal and Karlovic the matches before.”
While Murray is already qualified as No. 4 seed at the upcoming Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, Simon has climbed to No. 9 in the ATP race and has a still a good chance to reach a spot among the Top 8 players to attend the Masters Cup as well.
In doubles competition, HEAD player Mark Knowles, who plays with a MicroGEL Prestige MP, reached the finals with his partner Mahesh Bhupathi losing a close match against his competition 7-5, 7-6(14).
At the WTA women’s competition in Zurich, HEAD player Anabel Madina Garrigues, who plays with a MicroGEL Extreme, reached the semifinals while HEAD player Patty Schnyder lost a close doubles match in the final round.
