Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is despondent after his 3-6, 3-6 loss to Andy Murray of Great Britain in the Italian Open final in Rome. (Photo: AFP)
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is despondent after his 3-6, 3-6 loss to Andy Murray of Great Britain in the Italian Open final in Rome. (Photo: AFP)
Britain’s Andy Murray celebrated his 29th birthday in style Sunday by winning his maiden Rome Masters title with a hard-fought win over disgruntled world number one Novak Djokovic.
Murray, the number two seed who suffered defeat to Djokovic in last week’s Masters final in Madrid, prevailed 6-3, 6-3 in one hour, 35 minutes.
From a total of 32 previous meetings it is only Murray’s 10th win over tennis’s man of the moment.
“Well done Andy, you did a great job today. You were just too good,” Djokovic said on court after the final.
It is only Murray’s third clay-court title, after his maiden victories on the red dirt in Munich and Madrid last year, but comes in timely fashion just two weeks before the start of the French Open at Roland Garros.
Murray piled the pressure on from the start, earning a trio of break chances in Djokovic’s first service game.
Djokovic saved them all, but two games later Murray grabbed the first break of the match when he forced Djokovic into a backhand error for 3-1.
The slippery conditions were not to Djokovic’s liking and Murray, who had no complaints about the weather, tried to capitalise.
He won 16 of his first 19 service points, taking a 5-2 lead with an ace down the T, and then wrapped up the opener with a sublime forehand drop-shot winner to wrap up the set in 46 minutes.
Djokovic’s game, and nerves began to come apart in a second set that saw umbrellas come out and hoods pulled up due to the occasional spattering of rain. Leading 2-1, Djokovic complained to the referee about the lack of a rain stoppage and minutes later, still battling to win the fourth game, he began remonstrating with himself.
