Andy Murray is back in the Doha final and yet the sensation from a year ago is very different. There is something about the man - he stopped being a boy when he was about 14 - and the manner of his arrival in today's climax that really does titillate the title taste buds.

In defeating Nikolay Dayvdenko, the world No 4 for the third time in succession, 6-4, 6-3 yesterday, Murray played for the fourth day in succession like someone who does not intend to mope around or have any misgivings about his tennis any more. At 20, he is anxious to deliver and the first four of his opponents in 2008, Olivier Rochus, Rainer Schuttler, Thomas Johansson and now Davydenko will willingly testify to the quality of the Scot's performances.

Though there was no love set this time, Murray's success over the Russian - which carries him into a final meeting with Stainslas Wawrinka, Switzerland's No.2 professional behind a certain all-conquering superstar - was the best of all, given the renown of the opponent. Davydenko is still be having his fair share of troubles in that he cannot shake off the suspicions that have trailed him since a relatively obscure match in Poland last August was the subject of wild betting patterns. All he wants to do is go out on court and play again in total freedom. How he must envy Murray.

For freedom is the optimum word. the British No.1 does not seem to have a care in the world and if he has he's doing a remarkable job at hiding it. He was 2-0 down in the opening set yesterday, the Russian did not miss a first serve until midway through his third service game but Murray sensed that something would give and that when it did, he would be ready. And so it proved.

Davydenko missed five first serves in succession, Murray seized the initiative and did not ever let it go again. He broke for 3-3, pounced again in the tenth game when the Russian forehand went AWOL to claim the first set and with a succession of beautiful touches, most notably on the sliced backhand from the back of the court which he did not misplace once, simply overwhelmed Davydenko.

He did not even let three match points that slipped away in the eighth game of the second set, worry him unduly because his serve has become a much more dependable friend these days. Those days spent working in the Florida sunshine on his serve last month are reaping powerful dividends.

Wawrinka defeated Ivan Ljubicic, the defending Doha champion from Croatia, in straight sets in his semi final and has had Murray's measure in their two previous meetings, the first of which was his Davis Cup singles debut, on clay in Geneva, when he was more or less a one man team in the absence of both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. Murray has matured significantly since then and the potential of a fourth ATP title is surely, one he cannot resist.