The Madrid title will come down to the top two players in the world on Sunday. Andy Murray is the defending champion, but Novak Djokovic has already lifted four trophies this season and is a heavy favorite to capture another.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be facing each other for the 32nd time in their careers when they battle for the Mutua Madrid Open title on Sunday.
Djokovic is leading the head-to-head series 22-9, but even the relatively lopsided nature of that scoreline hardly paints the real picture. The top-ranked Serb is a positively dominant 11-1 in his last 12 meetings with Murray. Although Murray ended an eight-match losing streak by triumphing in last summer’s Montreal final, Djokovic has since reeled off three more victories in succession. They most recently squared off in the Australian Open final, with Djokovic getting the job done 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(3).
Does Murray have any reason to think he can turn the tide back in his favor? He does, in fact, have a few results in his back pocket from which to take heart. The world No. 2 captured the Madrid title in 2015, beating Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, and Rafael Nadal in the process. He has been similarly outstanding this week–at least since dropping a set in his opener against Radek Stepanek. Murray hammered Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-2 in the third round and was off to the races, parlaying that result into straight-set defeats of Tomas Berdych and Nadal.
Djokovic has turned back into, well, Djokovic since falling to Jiri Vesely right away in Monte-Carlo. The No. 1 seed is through to the championship match thanks to straight-set wins over Borna Coric, Roberto Bautista Agut, Milos Raonic, and Kei Nishikori. Only Nishikori has managed to break Djokovic (once) or take more than four games in any set. Djokovic is now 32-2 on the year and his only loss outside of Monte-Carlo came via retirement.
Sending a message loud and a clear that he is firmly in line for his first-ever French Open title is something Djokovic was unable to do in Monte-Carlo. He should have little trouble sending that message on Sunday at the expense of an opponent who has been just about hopeless against him of late.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Rafa was not good but Murray’s first serve was EXTRAORDINARY yesterday and he has continued that today! Awesome serving
Did Murray just SABR him? I love it. Why can’t this guy show up more often?
Haven’t seen him serve that well in a long time
Yes, murray’s serve has been huge today.
Good hold from Murray to make it 2-2.
Sloppy game from Murray! But the backhand DTL on BP was special from Djokovic.
What Murray lacks is generating pace from the forehand when Counterpunching! He loops his forehand too much and it is hard for him to turn defense into offense with his forehand. If this were a quick hard court, he would have been even tougher for Djokovic because he does not have to generate too much pace of his own on the quicker courts.
15-30 again…Come on Muzz
Lendl made his forehand a bit more aggressive and that is what he needs to get the edge. Clearly Novak has the ascendancy there.
Well it appears that Novak will pull this one out.
0-15
0-30
2nd serve
LOLLL 0-40!!! BREAK ANDYYY!!
0-40
Just hoping Novak doesn’t throw in big serves.
30-40…. Come onnnn Muzz!
Novak, second serve please. Double fault preferably. Thanks
GSM now
Goooood forehand! Had enough on it! Another BP! SECOND SERVE PLEASE
Pity! Did well on the return but could not engage the Serb in a rally
Woahhhhh Andy Murray! Punishing grondstrokes! And how DAMN GOOD in this guy’s ROS!
Why can’t djokovic give him a second serve!!!
Vamosss Murray! Finally a massive forehand! He HAS firepower! Needs to get it out. Novak playing safe tennis in this game! tight he is
Novak’s wide serve on the ad court is saving him.
Murray is clearly dominating rallies. Novak’s serve is keeping him in…
Murray is living up to his world no.2 status today! Quite admirable
This must be so frustrating for Andy! Novak has not missed his first serve on the break points