Querrey defeats Murray to defend LA title
Sam Querrey has won his fourth title of 2010, defeating Andy Murray 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.
Querrey, who had lost his four previous matches against the British No. 1 and was most recently rumbled by Murray in the fourth round at Wimbledon, turned things around in the final to complete a successful defence of the title he claimed last year with his defeat of then world No. 205 Carsten Ball in the final.
Facing Murray in this year’s final was always going to be a tougher challenge for the big-serving American, but two hours and 22 minutes after the match began, Querrey had added the LA crown to the ones he had won in Memphis, Belgrade and on grass at the Queen’s Club earlier in the year.
It’s a result that means Murray, who last week split with coach of two-and-a-half years Miles Maclagan, will head to the Rogers Cup in Toronto (where he was champion last year) without having won a title in 2010.
Given the events of the past week, it’s a result Murray will in one sense happily take, the 23-year-old saying after the match: “if you take the circumstances into consideration I have to be happy with getting to the final.”
However, with the US Open looming and a new coaching appointment not scheduled to take place until after the year’s final Grand Slam, victory over Querrey would have provided a much-needed boost for Murray, whose season has not lived up to expectations since his loss to Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open.
In other weekend results, Juan Carlos Ferrero continues to enjoy his 2010 renaissance, claiming his third title of the year with a straight sets victory over Italy’s Potito Starace in the final of the Croatia Open, while Spanish counterpart Nicolas Almagro prevailed over Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the final of the Swiss Open.
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