Murray wins Montreal Masters against Juan Martin Del Potro

Andy Murray won the Montreal Masters title last night after a gruelling 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 match with World No 6 seed Juan Martin Del Potro. It is the young Scot's fourth elite Masters title and his 14th overall, and sets him up well for the run-in to the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open at Flushing Meadows that starts on August 31.

The 20-year-old Del Potro pushed Murray throughout the 2hr 45min-long final, taking the first set on a tie break and only narrowly losing the second in a similar fashion. It was only during the third set that Murray's superior fitness shone through, and the Argentinean wilted in the considerable heat.

Murray's win consolidates his grip on the World No 2 position that he gained by winning his semi-final and by Rafael Nadal crashing out earlier in the tournament, although Murray will need to perform well in next week's Cincinnati Masters to maintain that ranking, as he has maximum points to defend their after winning that title last year.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYINGRichard Jago, the Guardian: "Andy Murray, fitter and more resilient, quicker and more tenacious than his opponent, had to stare defeat in the face and stare it down before winning the fourth Masters Series title of his career, the Canadian event, on a baking, muscle-aching, stamina-sapping day. Murray's win not only quelled the rising challenge of the youngest man in the world's top 10, but it showed immediately how important has been the benefit of his immense work in the even more intense heat in Miami before this tournament."

Simon Cambers, the Times: "For two sets it was an enthralling encounter. Murray cut a frustrated figure, annoyed at missing some shots he would usually make in his sleep, but more often at Del Potro’s uncanny ability to come up with some enormous serves whenever he needed them. One second serve ace was recorded at 120mph and Murray bouncing his racket in disgust. Murray must have been aggrieved to lose the first set because he had the better of things throughout, taking Del Potro to deuce three times, while losing only seven points on his own serve. The Scot forced one break point in the sixth game but netted an attempted backhand pass, while the Argentinian served his way out of trouble and stepped it up to take the tie-break 7-4."

Bill Scott, Daily Mail: "Whatever excitement Andy Murray may feel after achieving a career-first world No 2 ranking remains hard to fathom as the Scot moves on to his next challenge this week at the Cincinnati Masters. Having triumphed 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 over Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in the final of the Montreal Masters, the 22-year-old heads into the heart of the corn-fed Midwest to defend his title and prove that he is serious about challenging Roger Federer for the top ATP ranking." ·