Andy Murray is to replace Roger Federer as world No. 2 after defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to reach the final of the Montreal Masters.
The Scot today moves into second on the ATP ranking list behind longtime No. 1 Novak Djokovic, his opponent in yesterday’s final.
Murray was to line up against Djokovic after the top seed defeated France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Photo: AP
Djokovic said that he was annoyed briefly during his match by the smell of marijuana smoke from the stands.
“I think it stopped after a while. Whoever it was ... he was probably on the seventh sky somewhere. I felt I was playing better as I was inhaling,” he said.
The Serb, with three Canadian titles already to hand, advanced in 1 hour, 20 minutes to win his 10th match against Chardy without a loss in the series.
Murray, 2009 and 2010 Canadian champion, preyed upon a tapped-out Nishikori who might have run out of puff after winning a late-night match 24 hours earlier.
Murray reached the final in little more than an hour as he ran down every shot and left his Japanese opponent searching for answers after winning the Washington title on hard court last weekend.
Prior to the final, Djokovic owned Murray 19-8, winning their previous eight matches and the world No. 1 was prepared for a battle.
“Andy, who is an all-around player, very complete, has been somebody that has been around for so many years. He knows how to play in the big stage, in the big matches. I know what I need to do, and that is playing my best in order to win. So I need to get myself ready,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic was to bid for a seventh title this season and a fifth at the Masters 1000 level after winning four of the first five this year.
He said he was going to have to raise his game another notch to beat Murray.
“I played better than I did yesterday, but still I need to get at least a level or two higher tomorrow in order to win the title,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic was aiming for a 25th career Masters trophy. His match record this season stood at 52-3 before the final.
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