Murray, the number two seed who suffered defeat to Djokovic in last week’s Masters final in Madrid, prevailed 6-3, 6-3 in one hour, 35 minutes.
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Andy Murray celebrated his 29th birthday by beating Novak Djokovic on clay for the first time to win the Italian Open title Sunday in a match that Djokovic argued should have been stopped due to rain.
Djokovic lifted the momentum at a key moment in the second set, forcing a decider with a break on his first set point in the 10th game.
Djokovic sensed the chance to hit back when he had a break point for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but lofted a lob beyond the baseline and Murray held with two booming aces.
Djokovic beat Murray in last week’s Madrid Open final to lead the pair’s head-to-heads 23-9, but failed to adapt to the slippery conditions as well as his inspired opponent, who opened up a 5-2 lead before wrapping up the opening set 6-3 in 46 minutes with a brilliant forehand drop shot. Britain’s Andy Murray said pride at becoming a new father may have given him the edge as he stunned world number one Novak Djokovic to win his maiden Rome Masters title. “He made quite a few mistakes and I served well today and made it easier for myself”.
Meanwhile, three-time champion Serena Williams said she can’t wait after setting up the first all-American women’s claycourt final in 14 years.
It left Djokovic requiring medical treatment and appeared to rob him of the early momentum against the Japanese sixth seed.
The 34-year-old great has looked more vulnerable of late, losing in the semi-finals at last year’s US Open and final at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season. Murray is 2-1 in career finals that take place on clay, and his last five final appearances overall have been against Djokovic. I know as a young father how much it means to you when your family is on the road and when you get to have at least a couple of days alone with them. Murray has lost just nine games in his last two matches and it may be safe to say he’s now playing his best tennis of the season. He remarked: “Andy was the better player”.
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Displaying admirable sangfroid in hard conditions that saw intermittent rain and Djokovic barely able to control his temper, Murray was nearly Zen-like as he fought off an early second set revival from the world No 1.
