Murray Zaps Nadal In Abu Dhabi Exhibition Finals

January 4, 2009 7:15 p.m. EST

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AHN) - Andy Murray toppled top-ranked Rafael Nadal in a formidable start to 2009, pulling off a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory to nail the Capitala World Championship exhibition Saturday.

The fourth-ranked Scotsman pocketed the top purse of $250,000 in claiming the tournament, which is not sanctioned by the ATP.

He outplayed the Spaniard still reeling from a knee injury that forced him to miss last year's Davis Cup final against Argentina.

A day earlier, Murray crawled back from 0-1 to outlast former world no. 1 and current no. 2 Roger Federer 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Murray bulked up during the off-season in a bid to carry on from his blazing performance in 2008.

He remains without a Grand Slam, but he made the U.S. Open finals last year and is boasting of a five-title haul in the ATP in 2008.

The 21-year-old Glasgow native will defend the Qatar Open starting this week and will be a force to reckon with come January 19, when the year's first Grand Slam event-the Australian Open-unfurls in Melbourne.

Murray was one of the hottest players on the Tour in 2008, having won 56 out of 71 matches. After winning in Doha, he took four more titles in Marseille, Cincinnati, Madrid and St. Petersburg.

Before losing to Federer in the finals of the U.S. Open, Murray made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

He exited early in both the Australian Open and French Open, reaching just the first and third rounds, respectively.