Rublev beats Murray to claim Abu Dhabi title

World
number
five
Rublev
secured
a
6-4
7-6
(7-2)
victory
over
the
three-time
grand
slam
champion
in
the
final
in
Abu
Dhabi.

Murray
had
beaten
Rafael
Nadal
in
the
exhibition
event,
but
was
unable
to
end
the
year
on
a
high
note.

Rublev
claimed
the
only
break
of
a
tight
first
set
and
dominated
a
second-set
tie-break
after
Murray
had
fought
back
from
failing
to
hold
in
the
opening
game.

Murray
had
been
given
a
way
back
into
the
contest
when
Rublev
threw
in
three
double
faults
in
the
eighth
game
of
the
second
set
to
be
pegged
back
at
4-4,
but
was
unable
to
force
a
decider.

Nadal
suffered
another
loss
as
he
works
his
way
back
from
injury,
with
Denis
Shapovalov
coming
from
a
set
down
to
beat
the
legendary
Spaniard
6-7
(4-7)
6-3
10-6.