Andy Murray arrived in Canada without a coach and a title this season and left Sunday as a major contender for the US Open after a stunning defense of his Toronto Masters crown. Murray capped an imperious week on the Canadian hardcourts in style with a clinical 7-5, 7-5 win over Roger Federer to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Andre Agassi in 1995. Having reached the final in Los Angeles, Murray carried his form into Toronto dropping one set en route to the title. The Scot ended Argentine David Nalbandian's 11-match winning streak in the quarterfinals then became just the fifth player to beat world number one Rafa Nadal and Federer in the same event. “It was one of the best weeks I've had,” Murray told reporters. “Winning a tournament is always great, but it's the first time I beat Roger and Rafa in the same tournament, which is probably the most pleasing thing. “And I didn't drop a set against either of them. “It's very satisfying. I mean, it doesn't happen that often for anyone.” Murray has long favored hardcourts and all four of his victories in 12 meetings with Spaniard Nadal have come on the surface. All of his wins over Federer have also come on hardcourts and the victory in Toronto left him with a 7-5 winning record over the Swiss master. The numbers may give Murray hope of ending Britain's long wait for a men's Grand Slam champion in the lead-up to Flushing Meadows, but the Scot has enjoyed similar strong form in the past only to crash out in the high-stakes matches. Murray roared into the final of this year's Australian Open only to be humbled in straight sets to Federer, who was also his master in the final of the 2008 US Open. Murray was optimistic, albeit cautiously so, about his chances at Flushing Meadows. “I know things can change in a very short space of time but obviously I feel good after this week,” said Murray, who split with his long-time coach Miles Maclagan just three weeks ago. Clijsters rallies to win Kim Clijsters survived three match points before a rain break then produced a remarkable comeback after the weather cleared to beat Maria Sharapova 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 and win the Cincinnati Open Sunday. Sharapova had three championship points at 5-3 in the second set before rain left her stranded at deuce, two points from victory, and ending up having 74 minutes to ponder the missed chances before play resumed. Belgian Clijsters emerged from the break a different player, and steamrolled the Russian in the third set after winning the second set tiebreak from 3-0 down. “I think it certainly gave her time to relax, and more than the conditions themselves, I think it was about just maybe her going in and having a chance to think about what she needs to do differently,” said Sharapova, who took a medical time-out in the third set to treat a heel injury. “She came out and started playing really good tennis.” After holding serve following the rain-break, 27-year-old Clijsters broke Sharapova before holding again to take the game into a tiebreak. She clawed her way back from the 3-0 deficit to take the tiebreak 7-4, and broke Sharapova in the third game of the final set when the Russian double-faulted. The Belgian failed to win on three title points, but held her nerve in the end to secure a $350,000 prize and her 38th WTA win. The victory, watched by her daughter Jade, was her fourth since returning to the sport after a two-year maternity break. Clijsters returned to the tour at this event a year ago and went on to win the US Open, the Brisbane International and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. “You can't start a match when you come out of the locker room like that, you can't start it at 0-0. You have to be ready to go and you have to get yourself a little bit pumped up and fired up. That's what I tried to do,” she said. “To me, obviously being my first tournament that I played last year, it was already special. “To win it this year, you know, means a lot. Obviously after the (foot) injury and everything as well to beat a players like Maria and (Flavia) Pennetta this week is good to take to with me to Montreal next week and then obviously the US Open is ahead,” she added.
