Karatsev holds off Murray for 3rd career title in Sydney

Aslan Karatsev denied Andy Murray a fairytale ending to his excellent week in Sydney by defeating the British player comfortably 6-3 6-3.

Andy Murray played an excellent event in Sydney reaching the final for the first time in a while but Aslan Karatsev proved too mcuh for the British player. Karatsev made a name for himself at this time last year by playing the best tennis he has ever played at the Australian Open. Returning one year later he is still showing a high level on the courts down under proving there is just something about Australia that he loves.

The match was a pretty straightforward one. Andy Murray did not play his best tennis which was a huge disappointment for him. He was angry during the match and it was quite visible. Karatsev on the other hand put forward a very stable effort from start to finish being able to overcome the tiny bit of adversity he faced in the match.

He broke Murray in the first game of the match and from there he never looked back. Serving well and playing well he did not allow a single break point in the entire first set. He closed off the set with another break point conversion for the 6-3 score. The 2nd set started similarly as Karatsev broke Murray once more in the first game of the 2nd set.

This time around he did face break points and it came at 3-1 but he saved all five of them. That proved the final nail in the coffin of Andy Murray who never forced a break point again. Karatsev ultimately finished it off with 6-3 for his 3rd career title and first in 2022.