Murray avoids Nadal after World victory

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 08:48

ANDY MURRAY has been drawn against Albert Montanes of Spain in the first round of the Qatar Open in Doha following his triumph in the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

World No.4 Murray beat Rafael Nadal in the final in the United Arab Emirates, having already disposed of Roger Federer.

Nadal, the World No.1, has been handed a tough match against France's Fabrice Santoro in Qatar and can't meet Murray again until the final after they were placed in opposite halves of the draw.

In Abu Dhabi, both players at times produced strokes in keeping with the exhibition status of the tournament much to the delight of the crowd, but Murray was on top as he took the first set.

The Scot seemed to tire as Nadal won the second, but found a second wind in a scintillating third and claimed a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win.

After claiming the 173,000 first prize, Murray admitted: "It was a tough match. He made me do a lot of running and in the first game of the year you're going to feel it a bit, but I thought it was a great match from both of us."

Now Murray has his sights set on a first grand slam victory in Australia, where he has never progressed past the fourth round.

"That's what I'm aiming for," he said. "I worked really hard in November, December to give myself the best chance."