Surbiton Trophy 2023 results: Andy Murray beats Jordan Thompson to reach final

In an impressive display, Andy Murray secured his spot in the final of the Surbiton Trophy, marking his first singles final on British soil in nearly seven years. He faced a challenging opponent in Jordan Thompson, the defending champion, but managed to overcome him with a straight-set victory of 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Awaiting Murray in the final is Jurij Rodionov from Austria, and the two will battle it out over three sets on Sunday. Murray’s last British singles final appearance was in 2016 when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the ATP World Tour Finals, held in London.

Reflecting on his match against Thompson, Murray acknowledged the intensity of the first set but expressed satisfaction with his improved performance in the second set. He served well and showcased better ball-hitting skills from the back of the court, hoping to carry that momentum into the final. Murray eagerly anticipates the opportunity to compete in the final, emphasizing his desire to win a tournament on home soil after a considerable gap.

The final, scheduled for Sunday, will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer, the Sport News Center website and app, as well as the BBC Red Button, starting at 14:00 BST.

Murray chose to skip the French Open to prioritize his preparations for the grass-court season, aiming to accumulate ranking points to secure a favorable seeding at Wimbledon. In pursuit of this goal, he has also entered the Nottingham Open, taking place next week and broadcast live on the BBC, as a wildcard participant.

Before that, the current world number 43 has an opportunity to claim a second ATP Challenger Tour title in as many months. In May, he emerged victorious over Tommy Paul in Aix-en-Provence, France, ending a nearly four-year title drought.

Murray’s opponent in the final, world number 132 Jurij Rodionov, enjoyed a smoother journey in the semifinals, outclassing Zizou Bergs from Belgium with a score of 6-2 6-4 on Saturday.

The match between Murray and Thompson proved to be a gripping affair, particularly in the high-quality opening set. Thompson, ranked 71st in the world, won 11 out of 12 points in a three-game burst, nullifying Murray’s initial break of serve. However, the former world number one prevailed in an enthralling tie-break and secured a crucial break amidst a controversial start to the second set.

Thompson requested a point replay due to a spectator’s interruption during play. However, the umpire deemed Murray’s winning shot legal, and after a brief rain delay in otherwise sunny conditions, Murray broke Thompson’s serve. The Australian struggled afterward, allowing Murray to break his serve twice more, albeit while also conceding a break of his own, resulting in Murray’s ultimate victory.

In the women’s event, Katie Swan, poised to replace the injured Emma Raducanu as the British number one if she claims the title, will face Yanina Wickmayer from Belgium in Sunday’s final. Swan, 24 years old, impressively defeated her compatriot Lily Miyazaki with a score of 6-1 6-0, losing just one game in the process.

Reflecting on her exceptional performance, Swan described it as one of the best matches of her career, approaching perfection. She expressed her happiness with her performance and eagerly awaits the final.

Hopes for an all-British final were dashed as Katie Boulter suffered a 6-3 6-2 defeat against 33-year-old Wickmayer in the second semifinal on Saturday. Boulter would have secured the top position in the British rankings, replacing Raducanu, had she reached the final. However, that opportunity now falls to Swan.