Associated Press
Madrid, May 9: A decade after their first match, when they were a couple of promising teenagers, Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray here Sunday night, this time to win a record 29th career Masters title.
The top-ranked Djokovic defeated the second-ranked Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Madrid Open final, 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,” said the 28-year-old Djokovic, who beat Murray in three sets in that 2006 meeting.
“But we both thrived to be at the top, and we’ve known each other since we were 12. I think you could see already in those junior days that both of us had serious intentions to conquer the tennis world,” added the Serbian.
Djokovic saved seven breakpoints 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 victories.
“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 stated with a smile.
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.”