Andy Murray is moving up

About two hours before the eye-opening men’s final here at the Sony Open, Andy Murray was out on stadium court hitting with coach Ivan Lendl.

In a bruising, brutal conclusion to the North American spring hard-court season, Murray managed to stalk his good friend and frequent practice partner, David Ferrer, hunt him down and, ultimately, beat him 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (1).

“Both of us were on our last legs,” said Murray, who described it as one of the toughest ATP World Tour matches he had ever played.

Murray saved a match point to force the tiebreaker with a forehand that was in by a few millimeters.

Few have more heart, but at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds — giving six inches and nearly 30 pounds to Murray — he didn’t have quite enough power to finish Murray off when he had the chance.

A tired-looking Murray backhand found the net and Ferrer was leading 4-3, on serve.

Murray evened it at 4-all and then broke Ferrer again.

With Murray serving for the match, naturally, Ferrer broke him back.

When Murray’s running backhand volley veered wide, Ferrer had his match point.

Only a brave forehand kept Murray in it, although Ferrer unsuccessfully challenged the call.