Murray qualifies for Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
British star secures spot, joining Federer and Nadal at The O2 in London, following stellar summer campaign.Andy Murray has qualified for the prestigious Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, scheduled to take place at The O2 in London from 22-29 November. Following results at this week's ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati, the Scot now joins four-time ATP World Tour Champion Roger Federer (2004-'07) and 2008 ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal as the first three singles players to qualify for the elite eight-man event.
"It's great [to qualify]. Obviously with it being in the UK this year, it's big for me. I think qualifying is a goal for all the players. I think it shows you've had a very solid year and I look forward to playing," said Murray, who will make his second straight appearance at the season climax, having reached the semi-finals on his debut in Shanghai last year.
Murray moved up to a career-high No. 2 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings last Monday after capturing his fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, where he beat Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the final. Murray is the 12th player in ATP history (since 1973) to rank a career-high No. 2 and has snapped Federer and Nadal's four-year period of domination at the top of the men's game.
"I think there could be a battle for the No.1 in the world. That's what everybody hopes for. This year the Tour is very tough and it's tight at the top. Hopefully that's what we'll get to see," said Murray, as the battle to be crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champion looks like it could go down to the wire in London.
The 22-year-old from Dunblane, Scotland, has enjoyed an impressive 2009 campaign. He is the first player to record 50 match wins this year and has captured four other ATP World Tour titles, including the ATP World Tour 250 Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, the ATP World Tour 500 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
At the ATP World Tour 250 AEGON Championships in June, he became the first British champion at The Queen's Club since Henry "Bunny" Austin in 1938. Murray also posted career-best performances at Roland Garros (quarter-finals) and became the ninth British man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since the abolishment of the Challenge Round in 1922.
"We are thrilled that Andy has joined Roger and Rafa in qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Andy has had an incredible season so far, and it will clearly be a very exciting prospect to see him battle to become 2009 ATP World Tour Champion in front of his home fans at the last tournament of the season," said Phil Anderton, Chairman of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world's biggest-ever indoor tennis event, will feature the world's top eight singles players and eight doubles teams competing to be officially crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champions. Each of the top eight players and doubles teams will be drawn to play a minimum of three round-robin matches to determine which four players and teams advance to the knockout semi-finals.
With a capacity of 250,000, less than 20,000 tickets remain on sale to tennis fans across the group sessions at The O2, which will host the eight-day singles and doubles tournament. Tickets are available online through www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com or by calling 0844 847 2495 within the UK. Overseas customers should call +44 161 372 0025.
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