ATP World Tour No. 4 Andy Murray won his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over No. 3 Novak Djokovic to become the first British champion at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Sunday.
Victory for Murray earns the Scot 1000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points, boosting his chances of qualifying for the elite eight-man field at the year-end Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – to be held at London’s 02 Arena.
The result also moves Murray to within 170 points of the third-ranked Djokovic going into the European clay-court circuit - where Murray will drop just 520 points between ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo and Roland Garros, while Djokovic will lose 2,800 points in the same span.
“I think any time you win a tournament, obviously it gives you confidence,” said Murray. “The Masters 1000s have always been after the slams, they're tough tournaments to win. Like all of your wins, it contributes to your confidence going into the slams.”
Djokovic was looking to become the fifth player in the tournament’s 25-year history to win the Sony Ericsson Open title at least twice, after previously triumphing in 2007 with victory over qualifier Guillermo Canas.
The Serb had earned his place in the final with a hard-fought three-set victory over World No. 2 Roger Federer in the semi-finals, while Murray had battled past Rafael Nadal’s conqueror – Juan Martin del Potro.
In the two 21-year-olds' seventh meeting in Sunday’s final, Murray enjoyed a fast start to the match – immediately breaking his Serbian opponent to lead 1-0 as Djokovic miscued a forehand. With Djokovic struggling to settle into an early rhythm on his attacking play, Murray took full advantage of the Serb's unforced errors - while keeping his own game tight - and broke for a second time to lead 3-0 when Djokovic netted a drive volley. A love hold from Murray, who is just one week older than Djokovic, saw the Scot move into a 4-0 lead – reflecting a strong serving display that saw him drop just three points on serve in the first set.
Djokovic served well to register on the scoreboard at 4-1, but Murray’s confidence continued to grow – as did his array of winners, including a slam dunk and an angled backhand pass off a powerful Djokovic forehand to move into a 5-1 lead. Djokovic saved one set point in the seventh game as he dug deep to hold for 2-5, before Murray confidently served out the set as he closed down the net to put away a forehand volley.
Djokovic’s unforced error count continued to rise and the Serb was immediately under pressure at the start of the second set. Another backhand cross-court pass – a shot Murray used to great effect in the encounter – earned the Scot two break point chances at 15/40. Djokovic held on for deuce, and saved another break point chance later with a cutting forehand volley, but his hard work was undone as he double faulted to hand Murray a fourth opportunity. The Dunblane native took his chance as he rifled a forehand cross-court past the net-rushing Djokovic to lead 1-0.
With the temperatures soaring on Stadium, a physically-struggling Djokovic consulted the trainer before stepping out to receive serve at 0-1. The Serb came out with more attacking impetus and a forehand winner earned him two break-back point chances at 15/40. A rare unforced error from Murray saw him net a forehand volley to bring Djokovic back level at 1-1 in the second set.
In a complete role reversal from the first set, Murray’s standard of play dropped and the mounting unforced errors came from his racquet – while Djokovic made a marked improvement and reined in his errors. Three successive unforced errors from Murray saw Djokovic break to lead 3-1 and the Serb won his fourth straight game – after saving break point – as he held for 4-1. A lengthy sixth game saw Murray work hard for his second game of the set, saving two break points on the way.
In a key ninth game, Djokovic served to level the match and an ace brought up set point for the right-hander at 40/30. Murray stepped up to the plate though with a well-hit backhand return to force the error from Djokovic. The Serb later squandered a second opportunity with a double fault and was made to pay the price as Murray went on to earn a break point chance, which he converted as Djokovic’s shot landed just wide of the sideline.
A shift in momentum saw the fired-up Murray hold for 5-5 before creating three break point chances on Djokovic’s serve as he chased down a smash and his chopped forehand skimmed the net cord. A struggling Djokovic was then slow into the net and caught out by Murray’s passing shot at his feet to surrender his serve and trail 5-6. A 42nd unforced error from Djokovic saw Murray earn two match points at 40/15 in the next game and he secured victory as Djokovic placed a forehand volley long after one hour and 42 minutes.
“Yet again, I was, I think, the biggest enemy to myself. I was struggling again and adjusting to the heat,” admitted Djokovic, who also struggled with the heat in his Australian Open title defense, when he was forced to retire ill against Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals. “I was really impatient at the start. Made a huge number of unforced errors, and he was just playing very solid and waiting for his chances and serving quite well, moving all over the court quite good. Then I managed to come back second set. I didn't play smart on the 5-3. I had two set points, and I could have served a bit better. He made some good returns on the first set point. On the other set point, double fault. Generally, I'm not really satisfied with the way I played today."
Victory for Murray cut Djokovic’s head-to-head lead to 4-3, with the Scot now having won their past three encounters – including a straight-sets victory in the final of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati last season.
Murray is the first player this season to win three ATP World Tour titles. He captured the Doha title (d. Federer in SF, Roddick in F) in the first week of the season and won his 10th title in Rotterdam the following month, when he defeated World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. Two weeks ago he finished runner-up to Nadal in the final of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells. The only blemish on the Scot’s record in 2009 is a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open where, as a pre-tournament favorite, he was ousted by eventual semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco in five sets.
Murray has the joint-best match-wins record on the ATP World Tour this season with a 26-2 win-loss record. Andy Roddick, who lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals this week, stands at 26-5.
Since reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals (l. to Nadal) last July, Murray has compiled a sizzling 57-7 match record - the best mark on the ATP World Tour (Nadal is 50-7) in that stretch. He was contesting his fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in the past five Masters 1000 tournaments and captured his first two titles at Cincinnati and Madrid (d. Simon).
Murray attributed his great success to his improved fitness, saying: “Just gives you more confidence going into the matches knowing you're in good shape. I think just mentally it makes a difference. Even if you're struggling, you know your opponent is going to be feeling the same, as well, whereas before sometimes you could get tired and look over at the other side and the opponent seems fine. A match like today, there's obviously points - I mean, it was hot out there - a few long rallies and stuff I would be a little bit out of breath. I could look down the court and see him struggling, as well.”
“I think physically he's moving much better all over the court,” said Djokovic of Murray’s improvement. “The balls he wasn't getting before he is now. The switch of defensive to offensive tennis in the points - he is really good, one of the best in the world. I think that makes him a much better player than he used to be.”
Djokovic was bidding for his fifth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, and his second ATP World Tour crown of the season after winning his 12th career trophy at Dubai (d. Ferrer) last month. He dropped to a 12-7 lifetime mark in ATP World Tour finals. Having reached the quarter-finals or better at six straight events, Djokovic has compiled a 22-8 match record on the season.
(From Website : http://www.atpworldtour.com/TENNIS/1/EN/NEWS/NEWSARTICLE_2939.ASP)
