The defeat means the 28-year-old Briton will lose his world number two ranking to Roger Federer on Monday. The victor of the 0ther semi-final between Kei Nishikori and World 1, Novak Djokovic will decide the other finalist.
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“But we both thrived to be at the top, and we’ve known each other since we were 12”. “I think I did well”, Murray said.
Halep stormed through the first set in half an hour and needed just one break in the first game of the second to win her first tournament since Indian Wells a year ago.
This time it was the Mutua Madrid Open, the Masters 1000 clay court title that the Scot was doing everything in his power to defend, but still Djokovic got his way.
‘Not loads of players have won against Rafa on clay throughout his career, ” Murray said. He failed to win a Grand Slam, didn’t reach the semifinals of any, bringing an end to a record 10-year streak of winning at least one Grand Slam. The win leaves the Serb tied with Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras for sixth on the Open Era titles list with 64. “Very pleased to have beaten him this year”.
Djokovic broke in the opening game and quickly raced further ahead, his superiority such that the Scot, recently serving with added speed and bite after making technical adjustments to his delivery, could win only 17% of points on his second serve during a first set that flashed by in half an hour. He followed that up with another in Madrid before pushing Djokovic all the way in the semifinals of the French Open, coming back to level the match at two sets all before losing out in the final set. That’s why he’s No. 1 just now. “I was able to make him worker harder in his service games”. He was playing his drop shot to perfection – Nadal, meanwhile, could not land a drop shot to save himself – and he kept plugging away at his big first serve until it came good.
Djokovic has won five of the last six Masters titles, including three this year.
Murray said his opponent played the better tennis. “He won this tournament past year against Nadal and won against Nadal again today”. “I started well, but had a slow start in the second”.
“Murray is a specialist on all surfaces, a player of that level adapts very well to everything”, said Nadal. “I had an fantastic opening four months of the season. Not saying he played his best tennis today, but he played better than past year”.
The top-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Borna Coric (6-2 6-2), Roberto Bautista-Agut, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori while the second seeded Murray defeated Radek Stepanek, Giles Simon, Tomas Berdych and Rafael Nadal on their way to the championship round.
It was Nadal’s first loss after 13 straight wins in 2016.
“I just think I’m definitely moving better (on clay)”.
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“He made the difference with his serve”. Serb left this situation behind him quickly, going 3-2 up with a love service game before he broke Andy again in the next game, which will prove to be crucial. “I believe I can play well on clay now”. Murray is the defending champion while Djokovic last won in this ATP tournament back in 2011.
