No 2 Murray: 'Hopefully I can go higher'

Victory over Ferrer in Miami has Brit in good spirits as clay-court season nears

Andy Murray's razor-thin victory over David Ferrer for the Miami Masters crown will send the Scot to No 2 in the world rankings for the second time in his career, but he was too tired to celebrate on Sunday.

Murray rallied after a slow start in the opening set and survived a Hawk-Eye replay call at match-point down in the final set to subdue Spain's Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) in a punishing match in the heat and humidity of Key Biscayne.

Ferrer was stricken by cramps in the final-set tiebreaker, while Murray opted not to receive treatment on a tweaked ankle just to avoid prolonging the endurance test.

"We were both in the locker room afterwards," Murray said. "I wasn't up celebrating with my team. We were just kind of sitting there, because we're just incredibly, incredibly tired after a match like that."

The 25-year-old Scot captured his first title in the ATP's elite Masters series since he beat Ferrer in Shanghai in 2011.

Since then, he has gone on to claim the Olympic singles gold in front of adoring British fans in London last year and capture the US Open crown.

Sunday's victory takes him back to No 2 in the world rankings for the first time since 2009.

His rise to the second spot behind No 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will edge Swiss great Roger Federer down, while Ferrer will move back to No. 4 in the world at the expense of compatriot Rafael Nadal.

It will mark the first time since Nov 10, 2003 that neither Federer nor Nadal has been in the top two.

Murray, who had a chance to move to No 2 at Indian Wells prior to Miami, said it was a relief to finally get the job done in time to turn his attention to the claycourt season capped by the French Open.

"I was getting asked about it quite a lot, and it's nice just to have been able to do it this week," he said.

"So I don't have to go into Monte-Carlo or Madrid or Rome and kind of be worrying or thinking about that.

"For me it doesn't change a huge amount, but the fact that I'm moving up the rankings is a good sign. I have been winning a lot of matches. My consistency has been better over the last few months. The rankings obviously reflect that.

"So I will try and keep working hard during the clay and hopefully, you know, I can go higher."

Ferrer's determined display led Murray to urge greater respect for his opponent, currently ranked fifth in the world.

"I don't think he gets the respect that he deserves within the game. He's been in the top five in the world now for at least three years.

"He's improved his game every single year. That takes, you know, a great attitude to be able to do that," said Murray.

"Providing his body holds up, he'll be around the top of the game for as long as he wants or he can, because he's a very, very, good tennis player and has a great attitude."

(China Daily 04/02/2013 page23)