Mubadala World Tennis Championship Final 2021 as it happened - Andrey Rublev gets the better of Andy Murray
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Updated 18/12/2021 at 17:53 GMT
Andy Murray has reached the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship as he bids to step up his comeback from a series of injuries and surgeries. Join Graham Ruthven for the live blog of all the action from the final where former British No 1 and Grand Slam winner Murray will face Andrey Rublev for a chance to lift the tophy.
Mubadala Tennis World Championship : Rublev overcomes resilient Murray to win Mubadala
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17:00 - Rublev wins!
GAME, SET, MATCH - RUBLEV! RUBLEV 6-4, 7-6 MURRAY: The standard from the world number five was too good for Murray and Rublev gets the job done in the ti break.
16:53 - Tie break!
RUBLEV 6-6 MURRAY (6-4): There was an astonishing forehand winner from Rublev in that game as the Russian holds serve to force the tie break at the end of the second set.
16:50 - Murray ahead
*RUBLEV 6-5 MURRAY (6-4): A few too many errors from Rublev and that allows Murray to edge ahead again in this second set.
16:47 - Rublev hangs on
RUBLEV 5-5 MURRAY* (6-4): That was a big game for Rublev who is shaky right now. Murray had a good look at a couple of second serves in that game.
16:42 - Momentum shift
*RUBLEV 4-5 MURRAY (6-4): Has a shift in momentum taken place? Rublev will now have to serve to stay in this second set as Murray wins his third game in a row.
16:38 - Break back!
RUBLEV 4-4 MURRAY* (6-4): Murray breaks back! Rublev made three double faults in the game and Murray took advantage, securing break point with a stunning backhand winner!
16:31 - Strong serving
*RUBLEV 4-3 MURRAY (6-4): A love hold for Murray. His serving has been very good this afternoon. Can he apply any pressure on the Rublev serve?
16:29 - Two games away
RUBLEV 4-2 MURRAY* (6-4): It's good defence from Murray to merely stay in these points, but Rublev has the former world number one on strings at the moment.
16:25 - Still in touch
*RUBLEV 3-2 MURRAY (6-4): Murray can be pleased with how he has served today, although Rublev is jumping on anything the Scot plays short and central.
16:22 - Familiar pattern
RUBLEV 3-1 MURRAY* (6-4): Murray just can't apply any meaningful pressure on the Rublev serve. The Russian has been so strong in his serving. Such intensity.
16:19 - Much-needed
*RUBLEV 2-1 MURRAY (6-4): That was a crucial hold of serve by Murray for him to at least stay within touching distance of Rublev who is blitzing his opponent with some of these forehands.
16:16 - Consolidated
RUBLEV 2-0 MURRAY* (6-4): Another hold of serve by Rublev and the world number five is starting to accelerate away from Murray in the early stages of this second set.
16:12 - Break!
*RUBLEV 1-0 MURRAY (6-4): That's a disappointing start to the second set by Murray who made too many unforced errors in that game. Rublev gets the early break in the second set.
16:06 - First set, Rublev!
RUBLEV 6-4 MURRAY! Sealed with a stunning forehand winner down the line! The Russian is playing a very high level of tennis today. Can Murray step it up?
16:03 - Good serving
*RUBLEV 5-4 MURRAY: That had the potential to be a really tricky game for Murray, but his serving was good and he has at least asked the question of Rublev who will have to serve out this first set.
15:59 - Quick hold
RUBLEV 5-3 MURRAY*: Murray wasn't able to apply any pressure on the Rublev serve who holds to love and now the Brit will serve to stay in the first set.
15:56 - Important hold
*RUBLEV 4-3 MURRAY: With Murray in a bit of a dip at the moment on serve, that was an opportunity for Rublev to make it a double break, but the former world number one grinds it out.
15:51 - Missed opportunity
RUBLEV 4-2 MURRAY*: The opportunity was there for Murray at both 30-30 and 40-30, but there's just so much pace coming from the other end of the court, it's difficult to control.
15:46 - Break!
*RUBLEV 3-2 MURRAY: There's the first break of the match and it goes the way of Rublev who had been applying some real pressure on the Murray serve in the early stages.
15:36 - Quick-fire game
RUBLEV 2-2 MURRAY*: A second love hold by Rublev who is doing a good job of finding free points on his serve.
15:34 - Still on serve
*RUBLEV 1-2 MURRAY: Rublev won a point, two points in fact, against the Murray serve for the first time in the match, but the Scot grinds out the service hold.
15:30 - Love hold
RUBLEV 1-1 MURRAY*: And now a love hold for Rublev. Murray was trying to step in on the Russian's second serve there, but just couldn't get a good enough read on it.
15:28 - Good start!
*RUBLEV 0-1 MURRAY: A very comfortable start to the match by Murray who holds to love. The former world number one has played some very good tennis in Abu Dhabi this week.
15:25 - Ready, play!
Murray to serve first!
15:00 - Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final between Andrey Rublev and Andy Murray.
This might only be an exhibition tournament, meaning there are no ranking points on offer, but this has been a very positive week for Murray who saw off Dan Evans and Rafael Nadal to make the final.
Exclusive: ‘I want that fairytale scenario’ - Murray fired up for 2022
When things get tough, perspective is everything, and lucky for Andy Murray, the former world No.1 has plenty of it as he approaches the 2022 tennis season with purpose, clarity, and a willingness to take new risks this late in his career.
Multiple surgeries and a resurfaced hip have not deterred the 34-year-old from pursuing a competitive comeback. And while results have not consistently swung his way this past year, Murray says he plans on “leaving no stone unturned” when it comes to his off-court preparations, in order to give himself the best shot at success in this upcoming campaign.
The Scot’s mindset entering 2022 requires a tricky balance between treating it as a make-or-break season so he could “do the right things” away from the court, while not piling on the pressure when he’s competing on court.
“I just want to get the most out of what I can, whilst I'm still able to do it,” Murray told Eurosport in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the ongoing Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.
“I've spoken to many ex-players that have said, ‘When it's gone, nothing will replace it. So enjoy it whilst you're able to, play as long as you can’. Because I know a lot of players have stopped and kind of regret it when they could have kept going.”
Read full interview here.
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Watch the 2021 Mubadala World Tennis Championship live on discovery+.
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