Djokovic has defeated the world number two Scot, who will fall to number 3 in the rankings on Monday, in all four of their clay-court meetings. “When he had opportunities, I think I served pretty well in a lot of them”, Murray said, “and [I] also was trying to play aggressive, offensive tennis at those moments”. However, Murray’s lone clay win against Nadal came in last year’s final match at Madrid.
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However, Murray took the Serb to five sets in last year’s French Open and heads into the Madrid final as the defending champion, and Djokovic feels the 28-year-old is now a force to be reckoned with on what was once widely regarded as his least favourite surface. He had lost four of the last five matches against Nadal. “I was happy the way I handled the games-In tie-break I think I played very solid under the circumstances”, said Novak Djokovic. “I’m very consistent every week, this is good news”, the fifth-ranked Nadal said.
It was Nadal’s first loss after 13 straight wins in 2016.
Murray got off to a strong start on Saturday and did well to avoid the threat of an early break by Nadal-with the score at 30-30 in the third game, he produced a powerful ace and then emerged triumphant in an incredible 35-shot rally to hold.
Andy Murray got revenge on Rafael Nadal today, defeating the Spaniard 7-5, 6-4 to read the final of the Madrid Open. Murray’s last win over Djokovic came in the 2015 Canadian Masters.
“It’s been a positive week for me this week overal l- a few years ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d be winning against Rafa and then pushing Novak this close on a clay court”.
“He has played two tournaments on clay this year”. However, Nadal would be the one to blink when serving to stay in the match in the next game, going down after two-hour and eleven minutes.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to write off Murray, who’s coming off an impressive straight-set victory over the previously red-hot Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.
Djokovic saved seven break points in the final game and served out the game, set and match on his third match point.
Andy Murray’s hopes of defending his Madrid Open title were ended by Novak Djokovic in a thrilling three-set final on Sunday evening. Betraying no hint of the uncharacteristic nerves that, by his own admission, had hampered him towards the end of his semi-final win over Kei Nishikori, the Serb began like a rocket, leading Murray a merry dance with his variety and precision from the back of the court.
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“We both strived to be at the top, we’ve known each other since we were 12”. “There are many things that go into the match, you have to do a lot of things very well”, he said.
