Novak Djokovic outclasses Andy Murray to clinch Miami Open

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray pose with their respective trophies after the final

Novak Djokovic became the first man ever to win the Indian Wells – Miami double on three separate occasions when he defeated Andy Murray 7-6(3) 4-6 6-0 in the final. On a hot and humid day in Miami, Djokovic made clever use of length and direction to control his battling opponent in taking the 22nd Masters Series title of his career. The match lasted two hours and 46 minutes and it ended with Djokovic celebrating a fifth title at the Miami Open.

Swinging back and forth before Djokovic nailed the tie-break

Djokovic wasted no time in drawing out his weapons, stinging Murray with a piercing backhand winner to take the first point of the final. But Murray won three points in a row, the last with a blistering return winner to earn the first breakpoint of the contest. Djokovic averted any early dent by taking the first game after three deuce points.

In their 26^th encounter, the numbers were stacked in favour of the Serbian. Not only had he won their last six meetings, Djokovic had also beaten Murray nine times in a row on hardcourts leading to the Miami final.

Leading 17-8, Djokovic had just shown who was the boss with a facile 6-2, 6-3 victory when the duo met in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells tournament. Murray though decided aggression was his best hope and nearly pulled it off when he took an early break in the third game.

But a determined Djokovic hustled Murray in the very next game and Murray surrendered the break, swiping a forehand long to return the set to serve. The heat was bothering both players and Djokovic made a series of uncharacteristic errors in the seventh game to offer another break to Murray.

After winning eight points on the run, Murray drew a forehand wide before dumping a backhand in the net to crack yet again while he was in front. Djokovic gained three break points, when Murray slammed a forehand into the net.

The Brit saved the first with a cross court forehand winner, but splashed a backhand wide on the next point to keep it level at 4-4. Relieved at being let off a second time, the World No. 1 asserted himself by holding at love in the ninth game.

The Scot was a cornered cat when he slipped to 0-30 in the twelfth game, serving to stay in the set. But, a spectacular drop shot followed by a backhand cross court winner helped Murray recover to 30-30. Eventually Murray did well to survive a cruel point lost to the tape and deuce to force the breaker.

Djokovic showed remarkable agility and court sense to turn aggressor as he took the first four points of the breaker.Djokovic only had to hold his serve after Murray sent a limping forehand crashing into the net at 2-4. Djokovic could only win one point off his own serve, but that was enough to afford him three set points at 6-3 in the breaker.

The 67 minute set came to an end when Murray sank a backhand in the net. It was a tough set to lose for Murray, after being up a break two times. The net differential was zero with Murray making 12 winners and 20 unforced errors, to 10 and 18 by Djokovic.

Murray fights back with a resilient show in the second set

Murray was in early trouble in the second set. But even though he pulled off an inspired lob to claw back from 15-40, he had to save another break point before holding serve to 2-1. Neither player was able to force the issue, perhaps preserving themselves under the glaring hot sun in Miami as they kept it on serve through 4-4.

Serving to stay in the set, Djokovic made a tentative double fault to slip to 0-30 in the tenth game. A cross court forehand winner to end a busy rally saw Murray earn three set points. And a crunching backhand winner pushed the match into a decisive third set.

Djokovic outlasts a tired Murray

Andy Murray reacts to a shot in the third set

The bruising battle took another twist when Murray surrendered a break in the first game after a lengthy duel under the sapping Miami Sun. As both men hustled each other, battling for every inch, it took some real magic from Djokovic to consolidate and take a 2-0 lead.

A double fault from Murray betrayed tiring limbs as Murray offered three break points to his opponent in the third game. The Scot showed tremendous grit and resilience to hold off Djokovic and save all three break points. The nine-minute game finally came to an end on the sixth break point, when Murray netted a tired backhand to leave Djokovic leading 3-0 with a double break.

Murray slipped deeper into trouble when he was broken for the third time in the final set. It took three break points for Djokovic to gain a 5-0 lead, but it was essentially the final nail against a struggling opponent. Murray earned a break point in the sixth game, but it was all he could do to avoid a bagel.

Djokovic served to seal the set and the match as he clinched the title with an easy backhand volley into an open court. It was a physically brutal match and in the end Murray seemed to fade away, struggling to execute his plans in the final set. In the end, saving as many as 13 break points sapped too much energy from the Scot and he failed to impress with his second serve winning just 43% of those points.

The Serbian has gained a stranglehold at the top having won the biggest titles on offer this season – Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami. Earlier in the week, Djokovic was just a point away from being a set and double break down against Alexandr Dolgopolov. But as with great champions, Djokovic fought hard to find a way back and kept on course to successfully defend his title.

The next big tournament starts in Monte-Carlo on 13 April, as we enter the clay court season leading to the French Open Roland Garros.