Djokovic downs Murray (what’s new?) for Miami Open title
By Ricky Dimon
What’s the only thing hotter than the current heat wave in Miami? Novak Djokovic, of course.
Djokovic pulled off the spring hard-court Masters 1000 double by winning the Miami Open on Sunday afternoon. The world No. 1 scored another victory over familiar foe Andy Murray, prevailing 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0 after two hours and 46 minutes.
Now 25-2 on the season, Djokovic has won 23 of his last 24 matches. He owns three titles, all of them huge–Indian Wells, Miami, and also the Australian Open. Additionally, the Serb improved to 18-8 lifetime against Murray and has won seven in a row in the head-to-head series.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Andy Murray of Great Britain during the final of the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 05 April 2015. EPA/RHONA WISE
Djokovic just recently destroyed Murray in the desert, but this one was more competitive right from the start–albeit not all the way to the finish. Murray seized an early break of serve and although he gave it back, the Scot managed to force a tiebreaker. Even after dropping the ‘breaker, Murray made another recovery to take the second with a break at 5-4.
Not unlike in their Melbourne final, however, the world No. 4 wilted at the end. An exhausted Murray offered little resistance in the third as Djokovic cruised without the loss of a single game.
“It’s tough, because it was obviously pretty brutal conditions out there,” the runner-up lamented. “He was stronger than me at the end, for sure.”
Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the championship trophy after defeating Andy Murray of Great Britain in the final of the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 05 April 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
“It was just a physical battle between the two of us that play similar game,” Djokovic said. “We [didn’t serve] that well, so we [didn’t have] that many free points. With first or second serves, we needed to earn every single point, to work for it. That’s why this particular match was very tough.”
Both players can now prepare for the clay-court swing, which begins this upcoming week in Houston and Casablanca. The first clay Masters 1000 of the year will take place later this month in Monte-Carlo.
Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Miami Open tennis, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Tennis News
-@DjokerNole DOWNS @andy_murray (WHAT’S NEW?) FOR @MiamiOpenTennis TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/rQcT007yt1 #MiamiOpen #DjokovicvsMurray
RT @WeEmpowerment: DJOKOVIC DOWNS MURRAY (WHAT’S NEW?) FOR MIAMI TITLE BY RICKY … – 10sBalls http://t.co/LM5jcuzf5E
RT @FrontStory: DJOKOVIC DOWNS MURRAY (WHAT’S NEW?) FOR MIAMI TITLE BY RICKY … – 10sBalls http://t.co/i01SOg5zpU
RT @10sBalls_com: -@DjokerNole DOWNS @andy_murray (WHAT’S NEW?) FOR @MiamiOpenTennis TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/rQcT007yt1 #MiamiOpen…
RT @10sBalls_com: -@DjokerNole DOWNS @andy_murray (WHAT’S NEW?) FOR @MiamiOpenTennis TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/rQcT007yt1 #MiamiOpen…