The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and Opinions
Novak Djokovic is through to the final of the Shanghai Masters tournament after the world number one produced a commanding performance to ease past Andy Murray 6-1 6-3. The Brit struggled to cope with the exceptional level of tennis that the Serbian displayed throughout the match, as Djokovic comfortably dismissed the world number two to continue his extraordinary run in Asia.
In the first set, Djokovic threatened to make a fast start when he created break points in the opening game of the match, but the Brit saved them with some powerful serving to hold. However, the world number one was undeterred and his dominant play was rewarded when Murray gifted the break with a double fault. The Serbian consolidated his lead comfortably and continued to pressurise his opponent in the rallies, capitalising on another error from the Brit to gain the double break advantage. Djokovic was overall imperious, cruising through his own service games and using his impeccable length to control the baseline rallies. Murray’s service games were under siege throughout, and the world number one broke his opponent again with yet another inch perfect return to quickly seal a clinical set of tennis.
As the second set got underway, Murray started to increase the aggression and it soon paid off, as the Brit hammered a deep return to seize the early break. But, the world number two failed to convert his advantage and Djokovic immediately retrieved the break back after he somehow managed to outlast Murray despite being under extreme pressure earlier on in the rally. The world number one had regained his sparkling form and continued to build on his momentum, breaking once again when Murray produced another double fault. Djokovic was in firm control of the match, manoeuvring his opponent around the court with his precise groundstrokes to dictate the baseline rallies. The Brit did well to force his opponent to serve for the match but he was simply unable to respond to the sheer brilliance of the world number one, as Djokovic closed out a resounding victory to move into the final.
In the final, Djokovic will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as the Frenchman earlier overcame Rafael Nadal 6-4 0-6 7-5 to put a halt to the Spaniard’s encouraging run.
