Andy Murray has his sights trained on Wimbledon after securing a record-equalling fourth Queen’s title.
The Scot matched the hauls of John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick, seeing off Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-4 in a one-sided Aegon Championship final.
Murray, top seed and ranked third in the world, lived up to his billing with an effortless performance that saw him floor Anderson with a brilliant variety of winners and a service game that lived up to his big-hitting rival’s standard.
Now the British No 1 is already thinking about his bid for a second crown at SW19.
“It’s been a great week for me and hopefully I can continue that form through to Wimbledon,” he said. “Obviously you want to go to Wimbledon with matches under your belt on grass. Now I need to make sure I use the next seven days as best as possible.
“I want to continue playing this way through Wimbledon, I need to keep practising hard, playing well and we’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to it.”
Murray said his game is at least as good as 2013, when he peaked with an emotional Wimbledon success, but insists the current roster – headed by Novak Djokovic – requires constant improvement.
“I’m playing better than then, I feel, but you know it’s extremely difficult to win these events,” Murray said. “Everyone’s improving all the time. You’re playing against some of the greatest who’ve ever played the game so you need to keep working hard to get better.
“I still feel there’s things I can improve and learn. I keep trying to do my best and hopefully play like this more often.”
Murray can certainly take inspiration from his efforts against Anderson.
He started the day by finishing off Viktor Troicki in the semi-final, a match that restated at 3-3 before Murray wrapped up a 6-3, 7-6 win.
Rather than tiring him out, that early exertion seemed to warm up Murray for the main event and he stood firm against Anderson’s powerful serve, breaking once in each set while never surrendering his own.
“When you’re playing a match you’re trying to focus on the next point, not thinking about how you’ve played or haven’t played,” he said. “I’m often very critical of myself on the court. But obviously I came up with some great shots when I needed them.
“Kevin’s had a fantastic week and he’s playing some great tennis so I had to play that way if I wanted to win.”
As for joining the ranks of the four-time champions at Queen’s, Murray confessed a personal bond with the event.
“I love the tournament here. It’s where I won my first match at 18 as a wild card,” he said.
“I love the court and I love the club. The crowd was packed from the very first on Monday through to the end of the tournament and I’m pleased to play in front of a crowd with such fantastic support.”
World No 2 Roger Federer won the Halle Open for a record eighth time by beating Italy’s Andreas Seppi 7-6, 6-4 in a successful, grass dress rehearsal ahead of Wimbledon.
Defending champion Federer, who has won Halle more times than any other tournament, captured his fourth title of the year after victories in Istanbul, Dubai and Brisbane to take his career haul to 86.
“It is a special moment for me, to win this tournament an eighth time,” the 17-times grand slam title winner said. “I have always enjoyed amazing support here all these years. I always enjoy it here and it is one of my favourite events.”
The Swiss top seed saved two set points on his serve when he trailed 5-4 in the first set.
He dug deep to level for 5-5 in his 10th final appearance in Halle and then crushed the Italian in the tiebreaker to take the first set.
Seppi, who reached his second final of the year after Gael Monfils and No 2 seed Kei Nishikori retired in his two previous matches, fought hard in the second but Federer did what he had to take the title – and he is not finished.
“I will be here next year,” Federer told the crowd. “I will work had and hopefully I will stay fit and be back.”
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