Murray bags Valencia title

Champagne moment: Murray gets the celebrations under way

It is very rare for someone to win a tournament after a long break. I am happy I have come back from the injury well and played better with every match.

Andy Murray
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Britain's Andy Murray secured his sixth title of the season with 6-3 6-2 triumph over Mikhail Youzhny at the Valencia Open.

The world number four came into the tournament after having six weeks off due to a wrist injury but was never troubled during a one-sided final against a below-par Youzhny.

The unseeded Russian came through a three-set battle with Nikolay Davydenko the previous day but could not replicate anything close to that performance and was duly swept aside in straight sets.

Murray broke in the fourth game and never looked back despite his movement appearing to be slightly restricted by a hip injury he picked up during his semi-final success over Fernando Verdasco.

Erratic

An increasingly erratic Youzhny was broken again in the sixth game to concede the double break.

The Scot briefly faltered, handing back one of his breaks when serving for the set at 5-1 and his rejuvenated opponent held to love to further reduce the deficit.

But Murray comfortably served out the opening set at the second attempt, sealing matters with his sixth ace.

And it was one-way traffic thereafter as he raced into a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set.

Youzhny carved out two break points in the fourth game but Murray reeled off a string of winners to avert the danger and move within two games of victory.

Two further service holds were sufficient for the 22-year-old from Dunblane to close out the 14th ATP Tour title of his career.

Satisfied

"Both of us had long matches on Saturday," Murray said. "I knew the start of the match was going to be important and I started well, going up 5-1 pretty quickly.

"I'd say it was a little easier than I had expected but he is a tough player.

"It was a very, very good week. It is very rare for someone to win a tournament after a long break. I am happy I have come back from the injury well and played better with every match.

"I didn't have high expectations this week but with every round and match you get more confident. I felt good with the way I was hitting the ball."

Murray now turns his focus to the final two events of the season, the Paris Masters followed by the ATP World Tour final in London.