A decade after their first match, when they were a couple of promising teenagers, Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray again in Madrid, this time to win a record 29th Masters title.
World No. 1 Djokovic defeated world No. 2 Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Madrid Open final on Sunday, 10 years after their rivalry started in the round-of-16 of the tournament in Spain.
“Ten years [later] we are the two best players in the world, which at that time maybe it seemed like something that will be very challenging for us to achieve,but we both thrived to be at the top and we’ve known each other since we were 12. I think you can see already in those junior days that both of us have serious intentions to conquer the tennis world,” said the 28-year-old Serb, who beat Murray in three sets in that 2006 meeting.
Photo: AFP
Djokovic saved seven break points in the final game and converted on his third match point of the night to secure the win over the defending champion, moving one victory ahead of Rafael Nadal in Masters tournament titles.
The loss kept Murray from winning his 12th Masters title and dropped the British player to No. 3 in the rankings yesterday when he was surpassed by Roger Federer, third in the list of Masters winners with 24 titles.
“I’m very pleased that I have developed a great rivalry with somebody that I’ve known since very long time, and somebody that I have a very good and friendly relationship with on and off the court,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic has won 12 of the past 13 matches against Murray since 2014 and he is 23-9 overall against the 28-year-old Briton.
It was Djokovic’s second title in Madrid and his fifth this season. He reached 33 wins, the most on the ATP Tour this year. The win leaves the Serb tied with Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras for sixth on the Open Era titles list with 64.
“It’s obviously very flattering to be alongside such legends of the sport, tennis players that I was looking up to,” Djokovic said. “It’s an achievement that I’m very proud of.”
The thrilling last game finally ended when Murray sent a forehand into the net, giving Djokovic his 15th straight win against top-10 opponents, a streak in which he has lost only two of 35 sets.
“That’s why he’s No. 1 just now,” Murray said. “He fought very hard in that game and served well when he was a bit nervous. At the end he came up with some big serves, and got himself some free points and did well.”
Djokovic has won five of the past six Masters titles, including three this year. He had already won in Indian Wells and Miami, and had also clinched the Australian Open in a final against Murray.
“I had an amazing opening four months of the season,” Djokovic said. “I came here early, got used to the conditions and played a really fantastic tournament that will definitely serve as a great confidence boost before Rome and of course [the] French Open, where I want to arrive in a best possible shape.”
Murray has been impressive this season on clay, the surface which has seen him struggle the most in his career.
“I just think I’m definitely moving better [on clay], that’s for sure. It makes a huge difference,” Murray said. “I’m not going on the court sort of a little bit nervous or apprehensive. I believe I can play well on clay now.”
Murray is still expected to be considered one of the main favorites at the French Open at Roland Garros, where he lost to Djokovic in last year’s semi-finals.
“It’s been positive from where I was a few weeks ago going into Monte Carlo,” Murray said. “I’ve played some really good stuff. See what happens the next few weeks.”
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