Andy Murray beats Jurij Rodionov to win Surbiton Trophy, his second title in two months

Andy Murray won the Surbiton Trophy after a rain-delayed finish on Sunday evening, beating Austrian Jurij Rodionov in straight sets, 6-3 6-2.

Having gone four years without winning a trophy, Murray was looking to make it two in two months following his win at the Aix-en-Provence ATP Challenger on clay.

Rodionov, 12 years Murray’s junior at 24, made a strong start, leading Murray 30-40 as the Scot served to begin the match.

Murray held, but Rodionov blasted through his own service game to love. Murray responded in kind and the pair swapped service games until the sixth game of the set when Murray snagged a crucial break.

Leading 4-2, Murray held again to move into a commanding position. Rodionov held strong, converting his next serve to reduce the deficit, but Murray served out the set in the ninth game.

After 36 minutes on the court, Murray was looking very sharp indeed.

The second set began much as the first left off. Murray pushed Rodionov in his first service game before taking his own to love to level the set. Then Murray grabbed another break before consolidating with a strong hold of his own.

Leading 3-1 and up 0-30 in Rodionov’s next service game, Murray’s charge to glory was interrupted by heavy rain.

As the players dashed for shelter, the covers were brought on to the court.

Nearly three hours later, the players returned to action as if they had never been away.

Murray duly finished the break he had begun before the intermission, before holding serve again to move imperiously to a 5-1 lead.

Rodionov held him off for one more game at least, holding serve to reduce the arrears somewhat.

The beloved veteran brought up triple championship point with a huge ace, before sending down another booming serve that Rodionov could only slap back into the net.

Murray had swept to victory, claiming his first grass court title in seven years and set himself up for a seeded place in the draw for Wimbledon.

After the match, a clearly delighted Murray explained he was most pleased that his children had had the chance to see him win a title.

He said: “It’s great to win [on home soil] – obviously we don’t get too many chances and these grass-court tournaments aren’t easy ones to win but it’s brilliant to win another one and my kids are always asking me when I go away if I am going to come home with a trophy – and it’s been rare over the last few years!

“They actually came two minutes before the rain started and my wife had to take them back home so they missed the end of the match but I think they watched it on TV so Sophia, Edie, Teddy and Lola, I hope you’re watching and I’ll bring you all a trophy tonight.”

Murray continued, moving to analyse the match.

“Today was a good win for me, Jurij has played brilliantly this whole week, had a great tournament and won all of his matches very comfortably,” he said.

“He started the match really well today too so I was obviously happy to get through. It’s been the perfect start to the grass season. I’ve chosen to come and play here and in Nottingham to hopefully get lots of matches under my belt so this week has been the perfect start.”