Shanghai, China (Sports Network) - Novak Djokovic saved five match points and
gutted out a three-set win over Andy Murray to capture the Shanghai Masters
title for the first time.
Djokovic rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (13-11), 6-3 win in Sunday's final to claim
his 33rd career title and fifth of 2012. He also won last week in Beijing and
has won 10 straight matches since a loss to Murray in the final of the U.S.
Open last month.
That five-set match at Flushing Meadows included a marathon 22-point
tiebreaker that Murray won. Sunday's 24-point tiebreak went in Djokovic's
favor and propelled him to his tour-leading 70th match win of the year, while
ending Murray's two-year reign as Shanghai champ.
Murray was gunning for his fourth title of 2012, having captured an Australian
Open tune-up in Brisbane and the London Olympics gold medal before his
breakthrough Grand Slam crown in New York. He was a semifinal loser last week
in Japan and fell to 3-4 in title matches this year.
Djokovic, now 5-5 in finals this year, improved to 9-7 all-time against
Murray, including 3-3 in 2012. The Serb also beat Murray in a semifinal at the
Australian Open and the final at the Miami Masters, while the Scot triumphed
in the Dubai semifinals and Olympic semis before also winning at the U.S.
Open.
Djokovic's five wins this year tie him with David Ferrer for second-most on
the ATP World Tour, trailing only the six titles won by Roger Federer. Murray
beat the Swiss superstar in the semifinals on Saturday.
Sunday's title was the 13th Masters 1000 crown for Djokovic, who claimed a
first prize of $669,450.
The Sports Network