Novak Djokovic brought world No.1 Andy Murray’s 28-match winning streak to an end in Doha on Saturday to retain the Qatar Open title in a three-set thriller.
Serb star Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a high-quality, action-packed match between the two best players in the world lasting almost three hours.
It is Djokovic’s 25th career victory over Murray and puts down an early-season marker against his great British rival, before the Australian Open later this month.
“Definitely one of the best ways to start a year,” Djokovic said immediately after his victory.
“I had three or four match points in the second set, he turned it around and I thought: Wow! I hope this isn’t payback time!
“He was close... all the way to the last shot you never know with Andy,” added Djokovic who was penalized a point in the second set after destroying his racquet as the tension mounted.
Despite going into the third set showing signs of frustration and weariness, Djokovic was able to claw away any momentum Murray had to secure his second successive title in Qatar and the $209,665 first prize.
A break of Murray’s serve in the seventh game of the final set, when the Scot looked most likely to win, proved decisive.
Serving for the match, Djokovic secured the title on his fourth match point, having squandered three in the second set when Murray astonishingly recovered from 5-4 down and 40-15 to win three games in a row and force, at that point, an unlikely deciding set.
Despite the victory, Murray retains his world No.1 ranking.
Davis walks tall in Auckland
Diminutive Lauren Davis pulled off the biggest win of her career Saturday, collecting her maiden WTA title with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Ana Konjuh in the Auckland Classic final.
It was third time lucky for the 23-year-old Davis, who lost the two other finals she has made in her six years on the tour.
At 1.57 meters (5ft 2in), Davis is one of the smallest players but she more than compensated for her lack of height with her speed around the court which left 19-year-old Konjuh struggling to place winners.
The American broke Konjuh twice in the first set and three times in the second, finishing the match with her fifth break against the Croatian who is ranked 47 in the world, 14 places higher than Davis.
“It’s indescribable but it’s definitely an incredible feeling winning my first WTA title,” an elated Davis said.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for quite a few years ... I guess third time’s a charm.”
Konjuh, one of the rising stars of tennis and the only teenager ranked in the world top 50, was the favorite going into the final after the tournament’s big names, Serena and Venus Williams as well as Caroline Wozniacki all exited early.
Although the wind that Serena Williams complained about early in the week faded away, Konjuh was still erratic with her serve, with her first serve at a low 45 percent and five double faults.
With Davis’s speed also forcing her into repeated unforced errors, the match was over in 71 minutes.
“I thought it would be more of a battle,” Davis said, satisfied that her game plan had paid off.
“My game plan was to be aggressive and try and take control and open up the court.”

Source: Arab News