By Erik Gudris | Sunday, September 28, 2014

 

Andy Murray won his first title since Wimbledon at the Shenzhen Open in a tough three set win over Tommy Robredo.

Photo Credit: AP

Andy Murray saved five match points before winning his first title since Wimbledon last year at the Shenzhen Open.

In a grueling final in hot conditons, Murray battled against Spain's Tommy Robredo who gained an early advantage. Robredo took the first set largely helped by errors from Murray's backhand.

Murray rallied and held set points late in the second set only to watch as Robredo leveled things at 5-all. A tiebreak soon resulted with Robredo surging to what looked like an insurmountable 6-2 lead. Murray, going on the offensive, would fight back and put the breaker on even terms.

Robredo held a fifth match point at 7-6 but still couldn't convert for the win. Murray then sent the match into a decider with a forehand winner.

A weary-looking Robredo soon surrendered his serve early in the third set. Looking physicaly spent, Robredo offered little resistance as Murray raced out to a double break lead.

Murray ran away with the third set and then closed out the impressive comeback victory 5-7, 7-6(9), 6-1. Shenzhen is now the first title in 15 months for Murray who last held a trophy at Wimbledon in 2013 and his 29th overall.

"Today was obviously an incredibly tough match, the conditions are so hard to play in," Murray said to ATP.com. "I got lucky, basically, at the end of the second set. I fought hard, tried my best and thankfully managed to turn it round. Tommy had a great tournament; he probably deserved to win the match today. He had the opportunities in the second set, but sometimes that happens in sport. I just tried to fight till the end."

Murray's win also keeps his hopes alive for possible qualification for the upcoming ATP Tour finals in London later this year. Murray currently sits in 10th place in the standings for the year-end eight-man event.