Murray, Tipsarevic clinch ATP Tour crowns in Australia, India

Brisbane, Australia (4E Sports) – World No. 3 Andy Murray outlasted Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6 (0), 6-4, to successfully defend his Brisbane International title Sunday at Pat Rafter Arena.

With the victory, Murray earned $78,800 and 250 ATP Rankings points while Dimitrov earned $41,540 and 150 points.

Dimitrov was on his way to victory in the opening set but Murray saved a set point to force a tie-break. Then, Murray played a perfect tie-break, claiming it 7-0 with an ace on set point.

In the second set, Murray trailed 3-4 before winning three straight games to seal the victory for his 25th tour-level singles title.

“He plays a lot of different shots, which is tough to play against because you’re kept off balance a lot of the time,” Murray said of Dimitrov, who was bidding to become the first Bulgarian ATP World Tour title winner in the Open Era.

Dimitrov, who began the week at No. 48 in the ATP Rankings, is projected to rise to a career-high No. 39 Monday after his runner-up finish.

In India, Janko Tipsarevic defeated Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, to capture the Aircel Chennai Open title on his sixth visit to the hard-court tennis tournament.

The second-seeded Serbian scored the victory in one hour and 50 minutes for his fourth ATP World Tour trophy.

For the win, Tipsarevic received $69,500 and 250 ATP Rankings points, while Bautista Agut took home $36,650 in prize money and 150 points.

“I was mentally stable and was not worried when I was one set down,” said Tipsarevic. “I didn’t play my best tennis in every match this week, but I am happy to win the title. I really wanted to win this tournament as it is my sixth time here.

On the women’s side, Sloane Stephens edged rising star Laura Robson, 6-4, 7-6(4), in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International Sunday in Australia.

Olga Govortsova of Belarus recovered from an early 2-1 deficit before winning 11 of the next 12 games for a 6-2, 6-1 victory over fifth seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

In Sydney, fifth seed Petra Kvitova suffered a shocking 6-1, 6-1 loss to Dominika Cibulkova in just 64 minutes in the first round of the Apia International Sydney at Ken Rosewall Arena Sunday.

In other first-round encounters, Maria Kirilenko defeated Olivia Rogowska, 7-5, 6-2, while

Ekaterina Makarova eliminated Varvara Lepchenko, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

---

---