Andy Murray defeated Nick Kyrgios in straight sets to book his place in the final of the Stuttgart Open. The Scot followed up his victory over top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win to reach his 70th career final.
The first set went with serve before Murray took it with his second set point of the tie-break. He raced through the second, quickly opening up a 5-1 lead before sealing victory over the Australian in 93 minutes.
A day after beating Tsitsipas in the quarter-final, the first time he had beaten a top-five player since victory over Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals in 2016, Murray continued to show his prowess on grass as he builds up to Wimbledon.
Murray said he was proud of his efforts this week. “It has been a long time since the last final [on grass],” he said to atptour.com. “A lot of ups and downs, but I kept going and kept working and finally managed to get to another one. I am proud of the effort I have put in.
“I was just a little more solid in the tie-break. I asked the questions. On these courts, when it is playing quick, the set often comes down to one or two points and I was a little more secure at the end of the first set.”
The British No 3, currently ranked 68 in the world, will take on Italian world No 10 Matteo Berrettini in the final on Sunday. Berrettini came through his semi-final 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) against German Oscar Otte.
Murray will play Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the first round of the Cinch Championship at Queen’s, which starts on Monday. He will be bidding for his fifth title as he continues his preparations for Wimbledon. British No 1 Cam Norrie takes on Bulgaria’s former Wimbledon semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov and Dan Evans faces defending champion Berrettini. Ryan Peniston, the British No 7, has been handed a tough opening-round draw as he plays top seed and French Open runner-up Casper Ruud.
Alison Riske booked her place in the Rothesay Open final in Nottingham with a three-set win over Viktorija Golubic. Riske had ended British No 3 Harriet Dart’s hopes in the quarter-finals and had to work hard to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
Riske was made to work hard for the win and now plays Beatriz Haddad Maia in the final after the Brazilian won her semi-final when Tereza Martincova was forced to retire. Haddad Maia took the first set 6-3, before Martincova was forced to leave the court at 4-1 down in the second.
