Andy Murray enjoyed the perfect 29th birthday present yesterday, puncturing Novak Djokovic’s air of dominance by beating the out-of-sorts Serb in straight sets in the final of the Italian Open in Rome.
Just a week after Djokovic had beaten him in the final of the Madrid Open, the Scot gained his revenge over the world number one in another claycourt final with a superb 6-3 6-3 win in one hour and 35 minutes.
Djokovic was not at his best and in a grumpy mood, complaining on several occasions to the umpire about the slippery court surface on a damp day at the Foro Italico.
Yet the defeat, just his third of the entire season, could not be totally put down to hints of weariness from Djokovic after a tough week’s work as he told Murray afterwards: “Well done Andy, you were just too good.”
It was an emphatic triumph, after finishing runner-up in Madrid and making the semi-finals in Monte Carlo, to convince Murray that he now must have his best shot yet at winning the French Open, which begins this weekend.
In the week that Murray announced an amicable split from coach Amelie Mauresmo, this was only the second time in their last 14 meetings that he had beaten Djokovic and it was his first victory in their six duels on clay.
The light rain in the Italian capital really seemed to dampen Djokovic’s spirit as he complained to the umpire that it was “too dangerous” to continue but his appeals were brushed aside by the official, Damian Steiner.
Murray was aggressive from the start, taking command in the light drizzle, and even when Djokovic appeared to be fighting back in the second set, Murray saved break points in successive games to begin imposing himself again.
At the end, Djokovic capitulated with surprising swiftness, hitting a couple of errant forehands and a double fault at 3-5 down before Murray conjured up one inspirational backhand winner from way beyond the tramlines to lift the title.
No British man had won the Italian title since Patrick Hughes in 1931 and the triumph will put Murray into the world number two spot today ahead of Switzerland’s Roger Federer before the second of the season’s slams starts in Paris.
Serena triumphs
Serena Williams had to overcome a stubborn effort from Madison Keys to win the first all-American women’s tour final for four years in straight sets and lift the title in Rome.
The world’s best player demonstrated her readiness to begin the defence of her French Open title with a 7-6(5) 6-3 win but was so impressed with her 21-year-old compatriot that she predicted Keys could become a future world number one.
It was Williams’s fourth title triumph in Rome in 14 years, her 70th career title in all and her first since winning in Cincinnati nine months ago.
The 34-year-old great has looked more vulnerable of late, losing in the semi-finals at last year’s US Open and final at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season.
Yet. even though this was her first claycourt appearance of the season, it was enough to confirm she is in fine shape for Roland Garros, with plenty of room also for improvement.