Reuters
Montreal, August 17: Andy Murray ended a long drought against Novak Djokovic when he beat the Serbian 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in a draining final of the Rogers Cup here Sunday.
The British right-hander ended an eight-match, 25-month losing streak against Djokovic and improved from third to second in the world rankings. He had not beaten the World No. 1 since the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Murray and Djokovic embraced at the net after a three-hour battle of attrition that left them exhausted as courtside temperatures reached 40 degree Celcius.
“Everybody wants me and Novak to dislike each other and people always try to stir things up between us,” Murray, 28, said in a courtside interview. “It’s impossible to be extremely close when we’re playing in these sorts of matches because it’s so mentally challenging and physically demanding.
“But it’s not easy, not only because we get on but because he’s bloody good, he’s No. 1 in the world and he hasn’t lost in a Masters Series this year. To win against him is extremely tough,” the soon-to-be father added.
Murray made the decisive break in the second game of the final set but it was not all plain sailing after that, as he survived an 18-minute fifth game to hold serve and take a 4-1 lead en route to his third title on the Canadian hard courts, and first since 2010.
“We’ve played many matches like that, especially in Grand Slams,” Murray said. “If this was the US Open, we’d have to play another couple of sets like that, which isn’t easy.”
The vanquished Djokovic said sub-par serving had cost him the match. “Andy is deservedly a winner today (Sunday) on the court,” he said. “I thought what made the difference was his serve and my serve. I didn’t serve well the first set and a half. But not taking anything away from him, from his victory. He deserved it.”
