Agence Presse France
Miami, April 6: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was again at the top of his game as he roared to his fifth Miami Masters title by defeating Andy Murray 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-0 in the final here Sunday.
“I could not ask for a better start of the season, winning three big titles,” an elated Djokovic said at a courtside interview after the game. “Hopefully I will be able to use this for the clay court season coming up.” Djokovic became the first man to complete the Indian Wells-Miami Masters title sweep three times, having also done so in 2011 and 2014.
The two traded four breaks of serve in the first eight games of the tense first set in which both struggled to hold serves. “It was just very tough, brutal conditions for both of us,” Djokovic said. The Serb was quick to seize the initiative in the tie-breaker, racing to a 4-0 lead and then wrapped up the set.
The second set went with serve until Djokovic, looking weary, was broken in the final game, gifting Murray a double fault for 0-30 before the Brit belted two winners to force a third set.
However, the Serbian regrouped and blanked Murray in the third set to stroll to the title. “Of course I go through moments of doubt, as everybody else. But it’s important to keep those moments short. That’s what happened today (Sunday). I just gathered my thoughts and all the energy into the right direction, and that helped,” the World No. 1 said.
Even though Murray makes Miami his training base, he said he struggled physically in the two-hour, 46-minute match. “I played very well for a couple of sets. Maybe I could have done a little bit better in the tie-break in the first set, but, yeah, that was it,” a disappointed Murray stated.
