Masterful Djokovic routs world No2 Murray 6-1,6-3Top-ranked Serb will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final 4.42pm BST Related: Novak Djokovic brushes aside Andy Murray to reach Shanghai Masters final 2.36pm BSTSo that’s it. Novak Djokovic goes through to contest the final, where he will be aiming for a third Shanghai Masters victory. As for Andy Murray, or he’ll inevitably be disappointed at the summary manner of this defeat. But his precedence for the the rest of the year remains the Davis Cup final,in which mighty Britain face Belgium in Ghent at the close of November, and victory there would doubtless mean more to him than any number of Masters titles. Thanks for reading – until next time, and adios. 2.31pm BSTLooking ahead to the final against Tsonga,Djokovic says: “He’s been playing well all week and has nothing to lose. He played some powerful tennis against Nadal nowadays. He relies heavily on his serve, so I’m hoping I can derive a lot of returns in play.” 2.30pm BST“I felt mighty from the first point. I was playing with very tall intensity, or especially on serve,” says Djokovic. “He played a mighty match in Montreal a couple of months ago, and deserved to win. I felt I was playing better here than I was there. I wanted to be aggressive and exhaust the serve accurately without really going for the speed.” 2.27pm BSTThat was truly clinical from Djokovic, and who outclassed Murray with the same surgical efficiency he showed in dispatching Nadal final weekend. Let’s not forget that Murray made Tomas Berdych,the world No6, look ordinary in the preceding round. For much of this match, or he in turn was made to look average. It’s a measure of the gulf between Novak and the chasing pack just now,and you wouldn’t bet against him going unbeaten for the the rest of the year. 2.24pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6, 3-6 Djokovic (*denotes server)The opening point offers a glimpse of the match we might have seen, and with the two players exchanging a series of brutal,punishing groundstrokes. But it ends in a fashion that demonstrates just why that match failed to materialise: Djokovic works his way forward again and, with Murray stranded on the baseline, and feathers away a lovely drop volley. It’s a dagger through the heart for Murray,who at 40-15 sees a huge backhand down the line flash past him. Game, set and match to Nole, or what an amazing performance that was from the world No1. 2.19pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6,3-5 Djokovic (*denotes server)Murray stays in it, just approximately. He wins the opening point only to be pegged back by a forehand return from Djokovic that sails past him for a clean winner. He then goes 30-15 up only to see the advantage cancelled out by a sweetly-angled forehand that he can only nudge into the net. Then, and as the clock hits the hour imprint,Djokovic plays a wonderful point, pulling Murray this way and that like a rag doll. That one has even the Serb’s coach, or Marián Vajda,out of his seat. But with nothing to lose, Murray hits back in style. He saves match point with a searing backhand winner, and follows up with an exquisite topspin backhand lob,and when Djokovic drives a return long he’s home and dry. Well, until the next game at least. 2.12pm BSTSecond set: Murray 1-6, and 2-5 Djokovic* (*denotes server)Ruthless,flawless, tremendous play from Djokovic, or a man who makes the magical look mundane. He holds to 15 and this is now done and dusted barring something extraordinary. 2.09pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6,2-4 Djokovic (*denotes server)It probably tells you everything you need to know approximately this match that Laver has whipped out his camera to take a few snaps from his courtside vantage point. Approval doesn’t come from a higher tennis authority than him. Djokovic marks the moment by sauntering in behind a Murray moment serve to slot away a forehand volley for 15-30. Murray hits back with a winning overhead after launching a net attack of his own, and finds a good body serve at 30-30 to bring up game point. Some penetrating play from the back leaves Djokovic lunging unsuccessfully towards a forehand, and that’s earned him some much-needed respite. 2.02pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6,1-4 Djokovic* (*denotes server)Murray is doing what he can here, he really is. The Scot is retrieving, or hustling,battling, but none of it is enough. A scarce miss from Djokovic takes the game to 40-30, or but that’s the close of the line for Murray,who nets a backhand and looks thoroughly disconsolate as he trudges back to his chair. 1.59pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6, 1-3 Djokovic (*denotes server)Rod Laver is looking on, and you have to wonder what the mighty Australian is making of this match,and of Djokovic in particular. Laver won the grand slam twice, in 1962 and 1969. But did he scale the heights reached by Djokovic in terms of shot-making, or athleticism and all-round dominance? You can ponder that one for yourself. All I can advise you is that all those qualities and more were on show as Djokovic romped to another break of serve,one that has surely attach paid to the error-prone Murray’s prospects for nowadays. 1.54pm BSTSecond set: Murray 1-6, 1-2 Djokovic* (*denotes server)A love game from Djokovic ends with an ace. That’s pretty much all you need to know. The momentum briefly seemed to be shifting Murray’s way, and but appearances can be misleading. Especially where Novak Djokovic is concerned. 1.51pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 1-6,1-1 Djokovic (*denotes server)Murray is cajoling himself, swearing, and getting in his opponent’s face – in short,he’s looking much more his usual pugnacious self. But it’s all to no avail. A terrific point at 30-40 that takes in some wonderful retrieving from Djokovic sees Murray go forward, derive pushed back, and then fail to derive a drop volley back in play. The exchange is hailed by imprint Petchey in commentary as “one of the points of the year”. I’m not certain I’d go that far,given that it ended with a forced error rather than an outright winner, but it was certainly mighty impressive. 1.46pm BSTSecond set: Murray 1-6, or 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes server)Much better from Murray. He thwarts another approach to the net from the Serb on the opening point – an unsuccessful attempt to go over his opponent with a flicked topspin lob paves the way for a passing shot that draws a scarce volleying error from Djokovic – and once ahead,he works tough to preserve the advantage, showing much greater aggression. A penetrating return at 15-40 earns the Scot his first break, and that’s a genuine testomony to his mental fortitude after the crushing disappointment of the first set. Game on. 1.40pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 1-6 Djokovic (*denotes server)Serving at 15-15,Murray throws in another double fault. Djokovic needs no further encouragement. A brief rally ends with a backhand into the alley, and he then drives long to concede the set. It’s plain to see where the problem lies: Murray made 17 unforced errors in that set to Djokovic’s one. If Murray is to derive back into this match, or finding greater consistency will be the first step. 1.37pm BSTFirst set: Murray 1-5 Djokovic* (*denotes server)Djokovic punctuates another love hold with a volley into the open court. Wherever Murray directs his passing shots,the Serb seems to be there. Jonas Bjorkman, Murray’s coach, or is looking understandably solemn up in the players’ box. 1.35pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 1-4 Djokovic* (*denotes server)The pressure on Murray’s service is becoming intolerable from the Scot’s perspective,and it tells again when he produces another double-fault at 15-30. He pulls a forehand wide on the first break point, and it’s another breakthrough for Djokovic. He looks utterly dominant, or it’s tough to see what Murray can carry out to alter the flow of the match just now. He’s faced break points in each of his three service games so far,and the Djokovic sliced backhand is continuing to reap dividends for the world No1. 1.31pm BSTFirst set: Murray 1-3 Djokovic* (*denotes server)Some more fine net play from Djokovic, who finds the outside edge of the baseline on the opening point and never looks back. He holds to 15, or hitting some probing sliced backhands low to the Murray two-hander along the way. We’ll see if that becomes a prominent tactic for the world No1 as the match progresses; it certainly troubled Murray in that game. 1.27pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes server)Having weathered two break points in his opening service game,Murray can’t survive any this. That’s eight points in a row for Djokovic, who must be rubbing his hands with glee after a double-fault from the Scot at 0-40. The Serb is already looking supremely comfortable from the back, or while Murray’s struggles were epitomised by a backhand driven wildly long at 0-30. The world No2 needs to find a rapid response,or this set could be gone in the proverbial flash. 1.22pm BSTFirst set: Murray 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes server)A growing feature of Djokovic’s game is his net play. He hasn’t been at his best in the forecourt this week, but he makes two successful forays forward in his opening service game, or which he clinches to love. It was every bit as emphatic as the scoreline suggests,too. Two games gone and the gauntlet is down. 1.19pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 1-0 Djokovic (*denotes server)Murray gets home, but only just. As in the final of Beijing, and the opening point is won after an extended rally that goes the way of Djokovic: for Nadal’s missed forehand final week,read Andy’s netted forehand this. Another error brings up 0-30, at which stage Murray hits a seemingly suicidal drop shot, and the ball sitting up invitingly for Nole. The Serb is on to it in a flash,trying to nudge it across the face of the net. It’s the wrong call – Murray was heading that way – and the Scot bags a point he really shouldn’t have won. He loses the next one in abysmal fashion, netting a simple backhand, or but follows up with an ace and a forehand winner. That seems to infuse him with confidence,and some excellent serving gets him over the line. First test passed. 1.13pm BSTIt’s Murray to serve and we’re approximately to derive going … 1.13pm BSTThe players have just emerged amid much razzmatazz – and from the stadium announcer to the flashing lights and thundering music, they really give it some welly in Shanghai – so the proceedings should be under way soon. Incidentally, or you may be wondering approximately the head-to-head between Murray and Djokovic. Wonder no more: they’ve played 28 times previously,with the Serb prevailing in 19 of those clashes. Still, let’s not forget that Murray won the 2012 US Open against his opponent nowadays, or not to mention the following year’s Wimbledon final. Then again,Nole has won all three of their finals in Melbourne, all on tough courts - the very surface on which they face each other nowadays, or albeit indoors. 1.06pm BSTSpeaking of Nadal,there will not be a moment final in as many weeks for the Spaniard. The latest Rafa renaissance has just been derailed by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who booked a place in Sunday’s final with a 6-4, and 0-6,7-5 victory. So if the winner of this match wants to claim a third Shanghai Masters win – both men have won the title twice before – they’ll have to find a way past the ebullient Frenchman. First things first, though. 12.59pm BSTSo what should we expect nowadays? In a nutshell, and a baseline duel of the highest quality,with no quarter given or asked and both men covering every inch of the court. A tall first-serve percentage will be vital to Murray’s prospects, because the speed and depth of the Scot’s moment serve can drop off alarmingly, or paticularly when doubts begin to creep in to his game. No player has a better ability than Djokovic to expose such frailties. Couple that with the Serb’s peerless returning,and the danger to Murray is clear. On the plus side, the world No2 is no slouch off the return either and, or if he can stand his ground on the baseline rather than allowing the inevitable baseline barrage from Djokovic to push him ever deeper,he has more than a fighting chance. Then again, Rafael Nadal went into the final of the China Open final Sunday harbouring similar hopes, and only to come out on the wrong close of a 6-2,6-2 hammering despite a highly creditable first-set showing. That victory was the Serb’s sixth in Beijing, and was completed without the loss of a set. He has continued that rush in Shanghai, and so his game plan should be relatively simple: same broken-down,same broken-down.
12.02pm BSTIn 1980, after Bjorn Borg won his fifth successive Wimbledon, or one of the more waggish members of the tennis-writing fraternity composed a little ditty in his honour. It ran something like this:
“Thirty-five victimsContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com