Tomic Storms Back Onto The Scene With Title In Chengdu, Murray Ends Season After Quarter Final Exit in Shenzhen
Persistence. Mental strength. Determination. These are not words that one would usually associate with the maverick Australian Bernard Tomic. However the 25 year old and former Top 20 player showed all three of these traits this, surprising us all by coming through the qualifying as well as the main draw in Chengdu, before defeating top seed and overwhelming favourite Fabio Fognini 6-1 3-6 7-6 in an astonishing final that lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes. Tomic saved four match points in the final set tiebreak to win his first tour level title since his victory in Bogota in 2015.
Tomic seems to have found a new lease of life after spending much of the year struggling on the challenger tour, something which has perhaps provided the Australian with the extra motivation required to play tennis at the top level. Best efforts are not something that Tomic is known for, his lack of commitment at times having earned him the nickname ‘Tomic the Tank Engine’.“For me to win here is huge, one of the biggest [ATP World Tour] 250 tournaments in the world and it means that I’ll rise back up the ATP Rankings.” said Tomic after his victory.
Meanwhile Andy Murray has decided to end his season a week earlier than previously planned, after a mixed week where he reached the quarter-finals in Shenzhen. Murray upset defending champion and World Number 11 David Goffin in Round 2, with Murray showing signs that the world class player of old was beginning to return. However disappointingly, Murray was knocked out in the next round by Fernando Verdasco, the man who also beat Murray at the US Open this year. Murray said that he wants to be as ready as possible for the Australian Open next year, and will begin a long period of training to get his physical condition to where it needs to be.