Djokovic Tops Murray for Fifth Career Miami Crown

Novak Djokovic won his fifth Miami Open title on Sunday, beating familiar foe Andy Murray 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0 on an extremely humid Easter Sunday afternoon. The title also means that for the third time in his career, Djokovic has completed the Indian Wells and Miami sweep, becoming the only player ever to do so.

Djokovic joins Roger Federer as the only player to do it in consecutive seasons.

“It was just a physical battle between the two of us that play similar game,” said Djokovic. “We haven’t served that well, so we haven’t had that many free points, as a matter of fact. With first or second serves, we needed to earn every single point, to work for it. That’s why this particular match was very tough.”

Djokovic beat Murray for the third time already in 2015, with other wins coming in the Australian Open final and BNP Paribas Open semifinals.

Both players had to fight through emotions and the hot and humid conditions. After battling to come out on top in the second set, a physically and emotionally drained Murray was unable to muster up even a game in the deciding third frame.

“I just have to try and keep working hard and see if there are a few things I can do differently, which might help,” said Murray. “It’s tough, because it was obviously pretty brutal conditions out there. He was stronger than me at the end, for sure.”

After Murray took momentum into the third set by breaking at love to close the second, Djokovic proved why he is the best player in the world. He immediately broke to open up the third set to snatch the momentum right back, and five games later he was crowned the champion.

Djokovic will now remain atop the world rankings and sits 4,000 points ahead of the second ranked player in the world, Roger Federer. He ties Rafael Nadal for the sixth-most weeks at world number one with 141.

Andy Murray will move up to number three in the world for reaching the final in Miami. 

In the men's doubles final, the top-seeded American duo of Bob and Mike Bryan beat fellow American Jack Sock and his Canadian partner Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 1-6, 10-8 to capture their fourth title at the Miami Open. 

The twins now have 105 titles together.