Federer subdues Murray to retain Thailand title
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-02 21:01

BANGKOK, Oct 2 (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer retained his Thailand Open title on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 victory over British teenager Andy Murray.

Federer's 11th title of the year extended his winning streak in finals to 24.

The Swiss, last beaten in a final in Gstaad in July 2003, has now chalked up 77 wins this season, just one short of his personal best set in 2003.

"In the end I really had to play some good and tough points to get through because he was making me work extremely hard," said Federer.

Murray, 18, was appearing in his first ATP final and the Scot's performance this week will elevate him from 109 in the world rankings to around 80.

"Before Queens or Wimbledon, if somebody had said I was going to be, whatever, in the top 80 in the world in three months I would have said I'd got no chance," said Murray.

"But I got a lot of self-belief after I won against some really good players at Queens and Wimbledon, and then I went over to the States and played some smaller tournaments and had a lot of confidence and I won a couple of them."

Murray, handed a week wild card into the tournament, double-faulted to lose the second game and also had to fight off two break points at 4-1 before Federer wrapped up the set with a forehand volley.

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