By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, October 19, 2019
Andy Murray showed guile and grit defeating Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to charge into his first final in more than two years in Antwerp.
Photo credit: European Open Facebook
Powered by a surgically-repaired hip, Andy Murray is competing with familiar grit and guile in Antwerp.
Murray broke four times fighting off Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to charge into his first final in more than two years in Antwerp.
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The former world No. 1, who underwent right hip resurfacing surgery on January 28th, charged into his first ATP final since capturing his 45th career championship at the 2017 Dubai.
The 32-year-old Murray converted his third set point when Humbert double faulted into net sending the semifinal into a decisive set.
Credit the stubborn Scot for staving off three break points to start the decider.
Working the low ball to test Humbert's legs, Murray earned triple break point.
The Frenchman badly bungled a routine volley into net handing Murray a second straight berak and a 2-0 lead in the decider. Murray won eight of 10 points played on his serving stretching his lead to 5-2.
The two-time Olympic gold-medal champion tapped a forehand volley into the open court closing in two hours, 22 minutes with a clenched fist.
Murray will meet fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in Sunday's final.
In a clash of wild cards, Wawrinka overwhelmed 18-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-2.
Wawrinka fired eight aces and won 12 of the final 15 games ending Sinner's inspired run to his first semifinal that included tournament wins over top-seeded Gael Monfils and American Frances Tiafoe.
The fourth-seeded Swiss stormed into his 30th career final in 65 minutes. Wawrinka is playing for his 17th career title and first since he lifted the 2017 Geneva title trophy.
This will be the 20th career clash between Grand Slam champions. Murray holds an 11-8 edge in the head-to-head series, including a 6-1, 6-3 win in their last encounter at the 2018 Eastbourne.