Novak Djokovic will be looking for back-to-back Masters 1000 titles when he goes up against Andy Murray in a second straight final on Sunday in Rome. Djokovic needed a third-set tiebreaker to get past Kei Nishikori in the semis.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be squaring off for the 33rd time in their careers and for the second time in as many weeks when they battle for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia title on Sunday.
Djokovic is leading the head-to-head series 23-9, including an even more dominant 12-1 in their last 13 encounters. The top-ranked Serb won eight in a row at Murray’s expense, lost to the Scot in last summer’s Montreal final, and has now picked up four more victories in succession. The familiar foes most recently faced each other in the Madrid title match last Sunday, when Djokovic triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
If nothing else, Murray does own the advantage of having enjoyed an earlier and much simpler semifinal contest. Going up against Lucas Pouille in the afternoon, the second seed crushed the lucky loser 6-2, 6-1 in 59 minutes. He preceded that victory by taking out Mikhail Kukushkin, Jeremy Chardy, and David Goffin all in straight sets. Murray is a decent 21-5 for the season, but he is still in search of his first title.
Djokovic has wobbled from just about start to finish this week, but he has somehow found a way to maintain momentum after lifting the Madrid Trophy. Rome’s No. 1 seed held off qualifier Stephane Robert 7-5, 7-5, got bageled by Thomaz Bellucci before prevailing 0-6, 6-2, 6-3, battled past Rafael Nadal 7-5, 7-6(4), and recovered from another set deficit to outlast Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) on Saturday. Djokovic is 37-2 for his 2016 campaign with five titles (three of the Masters 1000 variety in addition to the Australian Open).
The four-time Rome champion needed needed three hours and one minute to survive against Nishikori, but bouncing back from grueling efforts has never been a problem for him–at least not since his reign at the top of the game began. Conditions in Rome should suit Djokovic better in a match with Murray than those in Madrid, as the underdog will struggle to hit through him on a slower court. In all likelihood, the impenetrable fortress that is Djokovic’s defense will once again be too tough for Murray.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Murray comfortably wins the set serving at 48%!! Still wins 69% of second serve points. When he gets the first serve in, he wins almost every point.
I was surprised when the posted the first serve stats and saw that Murray was below 50%.
Novak with 4 winners and 4 UE’s.
Murray with 11 winners and 2 UE’s.
the game is not broadcasted in my tv…. 🙁
Murray’s first serve percentage has gone way up in set 2 – 70%.
Wow! Murray has the break!
Wow. Andy.
The most aggressive returner in the game strikes again. 3-2 Murray. Firmly on his racket this match. 3 games away from a masters 1000 on CLAY
He already has Madrid. But Rome would be HUGE. Goating the clay. 😀 ?
who can give me high quality stream ?
http://www.stream2watch.co/live-now/sport/tennis/atp-rome-final-2016-live-stream-may-15
Not high quality but watchabe
Murray has been so focused in this match. This is the best he’s played against Novak in some time.
I like seeing the # 2 player stepping up.
Even the physical tiredness is kicking in now…Novak losing the explosiveness in his movement.
Novak will go for more on his shots now…
He is fighting with the umpire.
That part is tough for me to watch.
Great hold to cosolidate.
Will be really interesting to see if Murray can withstand the pressure next 2 service games.
The Serbian commentator commenting Novak’s fight with umpire saying: it’s Murray who is bothering Novak today, not the rain!
Do you speak Serbian, Natashao? Indeed, Murray is bothering him!
@ ratclif,
Yes I speak Serbian! I come from ex Serbia & Montenegro… 🙂
Novak is so good with languages! He will most likely become Serbian ambassador when he retires… 😉
I’ll be a believer in Murray on clay if he wins this match.
And I thought it was all downhill once a player turns 29 lol.
Andy Murray has a Rome title!! Whoa…
Are you kidding me? What a shot to win the match!
bravo Andy… new winner since 2006 🙂 🙂
Bravo Andy, well done!
Wow Rafa..Novak..Andy all have won titles pre RG. This RG can be most interesting ever 🙂
I really am not sure if Rafa should be on Andys side or Novaks
you’re not serious sanju? nole is way more of a threat to rafa. he’s beaten him countless times in a row whereas rafa has won 2 of the last 3 against andy.
Amy.
Yes you are absolutely right!
rafa’s game stacks up way better against andy than against nole. that’s why andy has only beaten him on a handful of occasions…
I am serious. Andy will not choke but Novak can choke given the pressure. Andy will really make life also very tough for Rafa given how tough he plays him most time and going by the recent MC semi
andy has choked against rafa plenty of times sanju. do you not remember how rafa murdered him with his forehand in rg 2014?? he could never overpower nole like that. nole has more weapons against him..
Yes I rem RG 2014 but then Rafa is not what he was in 2013 & first half 2014 now.
he is improving though…who knows what he can do on his favourite court which brings out the best in him…
i am choosing to believe he will get it together there…
I am hoping he gets it all together there on the huge Chartier court 🙂
he loves the huge chartrier court sanju! it makes a big difference to his game…
I said I would forgive him for putting Rafa out if he won. And to cap it all he did it in straight sets. 🙂
SO impressed with Murray getting the win even though Nole wasn’t at his very best.
Nole never an easy takedown particularly in a final.
Should make for a very interesting French Open!
Wow! What a shot to win the match! So proud of Andy! He hung in there and stayed confident, fighting for every point! Well deserved win! Worthy No 2!
However, not to take anything away from Andy, but both Rafa and Nishi contributed to this version of Novak showing up today….
Finally Andy gets it done! In straight sets!
Andy came out playing really well. Even Novak not at his best is never easy to take out.
What I like is that Novak’s rivals are stepping up now. First Rafa gave Novak a battle and then Nishi really fought and stayed tough and now Andy! God for men’s tennis!
Margot, Andy fans – Congratulations! oops… wrong blog. ???
rc,
Yes, Margot is on tennis-x! She used to post here. A great Andy fan and a great person!
Andy’s fans should be very happy.
hee, hee. Wasthat a Freudian slip?
Congrats to Andy Murray, managed to hold it together to win it in the end. Nice win!
Juan José Vallejo @jjvallejoa 4m4 minutes ago
We’ll only know in 3 weeks whether Djokovic’s idea to play Rome was the right one. All or nothing in Paris.
I was about to say this. Djokovic will be vulnerable in Paris now…he will have to be careful in the earlier rounds too.
TOld ya all, Andy’s winning this.
Saying this again: Andy is more than capable of defeating even a peak Novak on a surface that favors Andy more. Will have to give the edge on clay to Novak but it is a lot closer now. On grass, my edge goes to Andy.
People talk about Novak benefiting from Rafa’s and Roger’s absence at the top but never mention that Murray was also musing from the equation. He is back now! He will be very dangerous this season.
So VR..what are your RG picks? or waiting 4 draw?
That looks like Stan SmIth!