Murray claims Brisbane title

BRISBANE: Andy Murray has enjoyed a perfect warm-up to the Australian Open by claiming the Brisbane International with a 6-1, 6-3 final thumping of Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Murray blitzed the off-colour Ukrainan world No.15 in just 65 minutes yesterday to take the Roy Emerson Trophy.
Nursing a groin problem he sustained in his semi-final win over Gilles Simon, Dolgopolov lost nine straight games in a Murray onslaught midway through the decider after holding his opening service game.
The third seed struggled to serve at just 46% in the first set and Murray took full toll by breaking twice to speed through it in 26 minutes.
In contrast, the Scottish world No.4 was dominant and did not concede a point on serve until he was serving for the set at 5-1.
The punishment continued well into the second set as Murray broke twice more to race to 4-0 before Dolgopolov finally held serve, raising his arms in mock triumph to the sell-out crowd at Pat Rafter Arena.
The hard-hitting Ukrainian, who lost to Murray in the quarter-finals of last year’s Australian Open, then managed to grab a surprise break and then hold for 4-3 to delay the inevitable.
With a tremendous 21-9 record in ATP finals, top-seeded Murray then rushed through the two final games for his 22nd career title. – AAP

With new coach Ivan Lendl in his player’s box for both the final and semi-final win over Bernard Tomic, Murray looks in top shape for Melbourne Park.

Coming off a groin problem which prematurely ended his 2011 campaign, the 24-year-old blew off the cobwebs in unconvincing three-set wins over Mikhail Kukushkoin and Gilles Muller at the start of the week before hitting his straps.