Nadal revels in title, Murray finishes 2016 with a bang

It took almost two hours, but Rafael Nadal eventually overcame Belgium’s David Goffin 6-4 7-6(5) to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The Spaniard was forced to dig deep to win the exhibition tournament for the fourth time.

The reigning champion edged a closely-fought first set, finally breaking Goffin when it mattered and clinching the set 6-4.

However, Goffin roared back to break Nadal in the first game of the second set. That game was to set the tone for the set, as both players traded breaks of serve on the way to 2-2.

Goffin had chances to win the set, including five break points with the score at 5-5 but Nadal held firm to win that game and take the set to a tie-break.

In the tie-break, Nadal looked the stronger and so it proved, with the former world number one eventually winning 7-5.

Both players will now look to next month’s Australian Open after a positive start to their season.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray finished 2016 with a bang as he dismissed Milos Raonic in straight sets to claim third place.

Murray, who was knighted in Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s Honours List on Friday (December 30), celebrated in style as he romped to a 6-3 first set lead, twice breaking the Canadian.

He made harder work of the second set but eventually clinched it on a tie-break to win 6-3 7-6 and end 2016, his most successful year to date, with a win.

Murray ended the year at the top of the men’s rankings for the first time having won titles including Wimbledon, the Rio Olympics and the ATP World Tour Finals.

Speaking on court after the match, Murray said it was an honour to be knighted but was finding it hard to get used to the formality of the name.

Because the Abu Dhabi tournament is classed as an exhibition event, the 29-year-old Briton will carry his 24-match winning streak into the Qatar Open in Doha as he builds towards his push for a first Australian Open title next month.

Tags:

Andy Murray Rafael Nadal Tennis David Goffin Milos Raonic

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