Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will be facing each other for the 36th time in their careers when they battle for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open title on Saturday evening.
Djokovic is leading the head-to-head series 24-11, including 13-3 in their last 16 meetings dating back to the start of 2014 and 5-2 in their last seven dating back to the fall of 2015. The Serb also won their two Grand Slam finals last season (Australian Open and French Open), but it was Murray who got the last laugh at the World Tour Finals. In the first-ever final match between No. 1 and No. 2 that would determine the year-end top spot, Murray defeated Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to triumph in London.
The new world No. 1 has won eight of his last 10 tournaments, a stretch that includes the 2016 Rio Olympics and Masters 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris. He has extended his winning streak to 28 matches with straight-set victories in Doha over Jeremy Chardy, Gerald Melzer, Nicolas Almagro, and Tomas Berdych.
Djokovic slumped after beating Murray at Roland Garros, throwing away the top ranking just as much as Murray stole it from him. This week’s No. 2 seed has been trying to get back on track, but it has not been easy. Following routine defeats of Jan-Lennard Struff, Horacio Zeballos, and Radek Stepanek, Djokovic recovered from quadruple match point down and saved five match points in total to stun Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-3 in Friday’s semifinals.
“Playing already in the finals of the first event definitely serves as a great confidence incentive,” the 12-time major champion said. “Obviously this is exactly what I hoped that I [could] achieve–to get to the finals. I’m hoping I can play on a high level and we can compete as we always did against each other. We always have very physical battles, long rallies, (and) entertaining matches. Between No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, it’s a perfect matchup for the final. Let’s see what happens.”
This is a rare instance in which Murray goes in as the favorite–which he is doing not simply based on his No. 1 ranking. The Scot has cruised in Doha, where Djokovic had to be let off the hook by Verdasco in order to survive. Roles were reversed last fall in London, where Murray needed three hours and 38 minutes (and saved one match point) to outlast Milos Raonic in the semis before Djokovic hammered Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1 in one hour and six minutes. None of that turned out to matter in the title match.
Now the challenger, Djokovic is no stranger to exacting revenge on his friendly foe. In fact, he has not lost back-to-back matches to Murray since the summer of 2012 (Olympic semifinals and U.S. Open final). Look for Djokovic, in typical fashion, to raise his level dramatically from what was on display against Verdasco.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
[polldaddy poll=9629007]
Murray just so tired now. Horrible misses.
winner: N. Djokovic (SRB)
Fourth championship point.
Great winning point from Djokovic. Pretty shocked by the three straight missed balls in the net in the end. I think he was just tired. I really thought he’d break back there. Kudos to Novak though. Quality performance from both.
Great match point.
Good play from both.
Might just be a preview for the AO final.
Unless…
Novak gets the win in the end. These two are the favorites going into the AO. We might just see them in the final there.
Well done Novak. He’s back at the level where he could pull off the Australian. Other tournaments not so sure.
And this was probably the best match quality wise between the two. In terms of drama, perhaps only AO 2012 was better.
so much for my saying andy would win easily!! rubbish prediction on my part. i also said nole wouldn’t win ao…that’s looking like rubbish as well….
Ah that’s ok Amy. Don’t be hard on yourself.
Just ignore any nad predictions and focus on the right ones like Ricky and Me.
Speaking of….
I told you so Alison!
Congrats to Meeeee!
i still suspect you of secretly or not so secretly being on the fed train for ao hawks!! have to check out who you pick in the brackets…
ps i don’t take myself at all seriously when it comes to picks and so on..so it’s all ok with me!! don’t have remotely the tennis knowledge of you, nny and vr…
Thanks Amy. But you are a keen observer. Don’t sell yourself short.
don’t think i am really hawks..but i don’t mind and thanks for saying it even if it’s not true..
i guess nole will be the betting fave now..
He looked great this week considering the long layoff.
He’s a contender for sure at almost 36.
Unheard of in today’s game.
Respect where it’s due.
fedal final!!
#NID
Sadly rafa just ain’t ready in terms of consistency and confidence yet.
Just bought an annual subscription on tennistv to see this match and given the high quality it’s paid for itself already!
Lemme guess. Are those Feds legs sticking out of that goat head?
Yeah congrats to Novak and RC, and the rest of the Novak fan base here, played the bigger points better although only slightly in the key moments 😉
Hawkeye/ Elina it all depends which way the wind blows with you, i dont understand your SOH you seem to talk in riddles and cliches ….
I wouldn’t worry about me so much if I were you Allison.
Just enjoy the tennis! 🙂
Wow. I should have smoked something special to appreciate these closing ceremonies!!’
Wtf?
Amy Fedal final NID, i like your optimism 😉
guess i too have been smoking something special alison..!!
A bit much for a 250, no?
Murray is asleep.
Is this the Olympics closing ceremonies???
Im not worried HE, its just all a bit lost on me im afraid, and i do enjoy tennis BTW, it just doesnt dominate my life :-/