Murray backs Nadal for No. 1

8:40am Monday 28th July 2008

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ANDY Murray believes Rafael Nadal will soon usurp Roger Federer as world number one after being unable to overcome his Spanish opponent in the semi-final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

The British number one pushed Nadal all the way but the Wimbledon and French Open champion prevailed on the big points to secure a 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 victory to book a final with Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer.

It was far closer than their previous meeting at Wimbledon last month when Nadal trounced the Scot in straight sets but Murray believes the Spaniard is still improving and expects him to soon become world number one.

Murray said: ‘‘He’s definitely doing a lot of things better than he was in the past.

‘‘I think he’s moving better on hard courts, and I think he’s changing the pace of the ball a little bit more and not playing so far behind the baseline like he did in the past.

‘‘That’s why I think he’ll be number one in the world soon.’’ The difference between the world number nine Murray and Nadal was underlined as the former was undermined by making more than twice as many errors as his opponent despite the Spaniard hitting less than half the winners.

Murray reached deuce in the second game on Nadal’s serve but that was the nearest thing to a break in a highquality opening set which eventually went to a tiebreak.

Murray twice netted forehands to hand Nadal set point before double-faulting to gift him the set.

At the changeover before the start of set two, Murray had his right knee examined.

But if he was in any discomfort, it did not initially show as he immediately earned the first break points of the match.

Nadal saved one with an outrageous drop shot from the baseline, while Murray netted on the second.

A similar error handed Nadal the first break of the match in the very next game but a double-fault from the Spaniard saw Murray level immediately.

Another tie-break looked likely until Nadal secured another vital break in the eighth game.

With the Spaniard now serving for the match, Murray saved two match points but missed a close-range volley to gift his opponent a third, which proved decisive when the Scot again netted.