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By Alberto Amalfi | Monday, May 4, 2015

 
Andy Murray

Andy Murray hit 17 aces edging Philipp Kohlschreiber, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (4), in the Munich final to claim his first career clay-court title.

Photo credit: BMW Open

Andy Murray embraced a dirt duel to clinch his first career clay-court crown in Munich today.

Murray hit 17 aces edging Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (4), in the three hour and four minute BMW Open final — the longest ATP World Tour title match of the season.

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The top-seeded Scot is the first British man to win a tour-level clay-court title since Buster Mottram at 1976 Palma.

The final was originally scheduled for Sunday, but rain washed out the day of play postponing the match until today.

It was worth the wait for Murray, who is 5-0 in ATP World Tour finals in decisive set tie breaks. He also the 2006-07 San Jose titles, 2013 Miami and 2014 Valencia in breakers.

"It means a lot to have won. It was my first final on the clay, having lost a few semifinals at Roland Garros, Rome and Monte-Carlo," Murray said. "We played a very high standard match. I just managed to hang on at the end.

"He served unbelievably well. I had very few chances when I was returning. We may even play one another in Madrid on Wednesday. Philipp is a superb competitor and fought right to the end. It is nice to have won my first clay title and I hope to win another one soon."

Two-time former champion Kohlschreiber was contesting his fourth Munich final and came up a little bit short in the end.

"It was a great atmosphere and a great crowd. We both gave everything," Kohlschreiber said. "It was so close, but at the end there has to be one winner. Unfortunately, for me, it was Andy. It was a fantastic game."

The match was a rematch of their epic 2014 Roland Garros encounter, which Murray won 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10.

"It was a very special moment for me, in front of a home crowd," Kohlschreiber said. "I think I pushed Andy to the limit. We had some unbelievable points. I think, for the spectators who came, it was one of the best Munich finals."



 

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