In a strong statement leading to the Australian Open, Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on consecutive days.
The Scotsman defeated the top-ranked Nadal, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, Saturday to capture the Capitala World Tennis Championship exhibition at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and the $250,000 winner-take-all prize. A day earlier in the semifinals, he topped the No. 2-ranked Federer, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).
The tournament, not part of the ATP Tour, included six of the world's top 10 players.
Murray, who put on more muscle during the off-season, is ranked No. 4 and has yet to win a Grand Slam event. He has a chance to change that at the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 19.
"This victory was good before I go to Australia," said Murray, who will first defend his Qatar Open title in Doha. "I have never been past the fourth round there. I trained hard over the break and the victories over the past three days have given me confidence."
In the final set, Murray broke after a long seventh game and then held serve to go up, 5-3. He covered the court well, running down every shot and breaking serve one more time.
"He has carried his form over the last four months and he has a good chance to win in Australia," Nadal said.
Murray's only previous victory over Nadal in six matches was in the U.S. Open semifinals in September. The Spaniard played 111 matches in 2008 and pulled out of the Davis Cup final against Argentina in November because of an injured knee.
Nadal insisted he played well despite the loss.
ETC.
Jibboom wins at Santa Anita
Jibboom beat Christiana's Heat by a half-length to win the $100,000 Monrovia Handicap at Santa Anita.
Under Garrett Gomez, Jibboom covered 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.21, paying $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60.
Christiana's Heat returned $12.40 and $6.20. The winning purse of $60,000 increased Jibboom's career earnings to $337,600 for an overall record of 4-3-0 in nine starts.
Germany won the four-man team competition of the Nordic combined World Cup event at Schonach, Germany.
Georg Hettich, Eric Frenzel, Bjoern Kircheisen and Tino Edelmann finished 16.9 seconds ahead of Norway in the 20-kilometer relay. Austria was third.
Germany also won the ski jump portion of the combined event, ahead of Austria and Finland.
The U.S. team of Todd Lodwick, Bill Demong, Johnny Spillane and Brett Camerota finished sixth overall, moving up in the relay after finishing eighth in the jumping.
