THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Top-seeded Andy Murray beat Andrey Golubev 6-1, 6-1 Sunday to win the St. Petersburg Open for the second straight year.
Murray, who also won at the Madrid Masters last Sunday, became the first British player to win back-to-back tour-level titles since Mark Cox won in London and Washington, D.C., in March 1975.
Murray did not drop a set on the way to his fifth title this season and his eighth career win.
The Briton dominated the match with solid play from the baseline, constantly trapping Golubev in the corners. Murray won five consecutive games in the first set and six more in the second to finish things off in 56 minutes.
"I played well today, I really enjoyed myself this week," Murray said. "At the start of both sets it was quite close, but once I got ahead I started to feel much more comfortable. In terms of the score it was easy, but it wasn't the easiest match I've played on the tour."
Golubev saved two match points while serving down 5-1 and 40-15 in the second set, but netted a return shot on a second deuce. A 150th-ranked qualifier from Kazakhstan, Golubev upset eighth-seeded Marat Safin in straight sets in the second round Thursday to reach his first ATP quarter-final.
Golubev said he was tired after playing eight matches in nine days, but he was happy with his performance.
"I'm a bit disappointed but not because I've lost today but because I couldn't challenge Murray the way I really could," Golubev said.
It was the 12th consecutive win for the fourth-ranked Murray, including two victories in Britain's Davis Cup World Group playoffs against Austria in September. His win-loss record this season is 53-14, making him the fourth player this year to win more than 50 matches.
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