Injured Nadal yields title after brave fight

ROTTERDAM – Second-seeded Andy Murray overcame an injured Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, Sunday to become the first British winner at the ABN Amro tournament.

The top-ranked Nadal was bothered by a right knee injury and had to call a medical timeout in the second set, before deciding to continue the match.

“Rafael was hurt at the beginning of the second set,” said Murray. “On one leg he could still go on. That’s how good he is.”

Murray took the first set after breaking Nadal in the sixth game, but the Spaniard fought back in the second. However, he struggled with his serve in the third set because of his sore knee, and Murray was able to seal the win with an ace.

Britain’s Tim Henman was runner-up here three times, losing the 1999, 2000 and 2002 finals.

Nadal was also attempting to become the first Spaniard to win in Rotterdam after Juan Carlos Ferrero lost the 2004 final to Lleyton Hewitt for the best country’s best Rotterdam result. (AP)