Djokovic secures third Miami Masters

World number one Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) yesterday to win his second straight ATP Miami Masters title and third overall.

Djokovic, who won in Miami for the first time in 2007, became just the third man to win the title three or more times, along with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Agassi won six Miami titles and Sampras three.

For his third straight match, Djokovic cruised through the first set before finding himself in a tense tussle in the second.

However, even though the second set went with serve until the tie-breaker, it was Murray who was under pressure most, fighting off break points in three of his service games.

“I thought I played a great match from start to end,” Djokovic said. “There was a couple of service games I had a chance to break him in the second set. He’s such a quality player, you never know.”

Murray had beaten Australian Open champion Djokovic in the semi-finals at Dubai in February, and Djokovic was upset by American John Isner in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters the previous week.

Djokovic said that rendered this win, which made him the first man since Roger Federer in 2006 to successfully defend the Miami crown, all the sweeter.