user: News article: Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to win Rome Masters

Will Andy conduct his interview in Italian? I’m thinking ... no. He does attempt a “Hello” in Italian to some applause and says sorry for not being as good at languages as Novak. A quick spot of “God Save the Queen” and he’s off to the pub to celebrate his 29th birthday - they even gave him a cake on court. And we now have a match report for you to peruse at your leisure:

Related: Andy Murray downs Novak Djokovic to win Italian Open claycourt title

The presentation ceremony. Novak looks much happier after the match than he was during the contest. He flashes his language skills giving his post-match interview in Italian to huge applause, before switching to English to speak to Murray: “Well done Andy, you were just too good”.

The players meet at the net. Novak gives Andy a big hug and whispers something in his opponent’s ear - maybe a combination of happy birthday and well played. Murray had lost 12 of the pair’s last 13 meetings and had started to look beaten whenever he stepped on to court against Djokovic - this is a big win for the Scot ahead of the French Open. Djokovic looked out of sorts today - possibly over the surface - but you still need to be an exceptional player to exploit a weakness in the world No1’s game.

Murray finds himself two points from the title after a lazy backhand from Novak flops long. He then double faults - his first of the match - and Andy has two championship points. And Murray seals it with style, chasing down a big forehand from Novak and rockets a winner. Wow!

Second set: Djokovic 3-6, 3-5 Murray* (*denotes server)

Most days Novak looks on a different level from every other player on the planet. Today he looks merely very good, and is arguing with the umpire about the playing surface - Novak thinks he’s in danger of hurting his ankle as the clay gets stickier in the rain. Murray seems happy enough and opens the game with a cross court winner. But Novak hits back quickly and some great returns take him to a 15-30 lead. At 30-30 Murray hits a first serve into the net and slumps - he knows he’s yet to win a point off the second serve this set. He takes a chance though and hits a 105mph serve, and surprises Novak. That takes him to 40-30 and eventually holds.

Second set: *Djokovic 3-6, 3-4 Murray (*denotes server)

Djokovic nearly double faults at 30-15 but keeps his nerve to make it 40-15 - just as well as Murray wins the next point with a drop shot. He wins the next point and Murray needs to hold twice to win the title.

Second set: Djokovic 3-6, 2-4 Murray* (*denotes server)

Both here in Rome and in Madrid last week, Andy has been willing to attack Novak’s second serve and he was rewarded for his aggression in the last game. Novak looks to have won the point at 15-15 but a ridiculous overhead backhand from Andy keeps him in it and he’s up 30-15. Any struggles Andy has had in this set have been on his second serve - he’s yet to win a point on it. But he’s been strong on his first and a big one helps him hold.

Second set: *Djokovic 3-6, 2-3 Murray (*denotes server)

A brilliant drop shot - this time from Murray - to open the game: Novak doesn’t even bother to run for it. Then a mishit backhand from Novak opens up an early 0-30 lead for the Scot. Andy has a good chance to make it 15-40 but he wafts at a backhand that drifts just wide. The next point Murray finally has some pressure on Novak’s serve this set as a series of clever shot leads to a Novak error and we’re at 30-40. Murray creeps up to the second serve to put his opponent on the defensive and he finishes the point with a crosscourt volley. He’s broken!

Second set: Djokovic 3-6, 2-2 Murray* (*denotes server)

Novak unloads an f-bomb that has the commentators scrambling for an apology as he gives his opinion on the lack of a rain break. He then follows it up with something in Serbian that doesn’t sound like a sorry. It doesn’t appear to affect his game anyway, as a long Murray forehand brings up another break point. Andy saves it with a great serve and volley though and the Scot does his trademark open-mouthed roar (with no added swear words). But Novak is all over Andy’s second serve this set and sets up another break point (which Andy saves). Andy goes on to hold but he’s clinging on in this set.

Second set: *Djokovic 3-6, 2-1 Murray (*denotes server)

Novak opens the game with another drop shot - and another successful one. He’s at it again on the third point of the game to make it 30-15 - the pundits on TV reckon he’s introduced it because Andy is moving so well laterally so far.

Second set: Djokovic 3-6, 1-1 Murray* (*denotes server)

Now it’s Andy asking for a rain break as the court gets heavier. He tries a drop shot at 15-0 that Novak retrieves brilliantly to level the game. Andy then wrong foots Novak and finishes him off with a big forehand and we’re at 30-15. A scary moment for Novak, who slides into a barrier at the side of the court but he seems OK - in fact, he’s chipper enough to hit the most subtle of drop shots to leave the scores at deuce. Murray then passes up a chance to seal the game and Novak rattles off a couple of point for his first chance to break today. He nearly has it too with a lob that lands a foot or so long. Andy then digs in and holds with an ace. A good hold for Andy but Novak is looking back to his best.

Second set: *Djokovic 3-6, 1-0 Murray (*denotes server)

Novak looks a little zingier in the second set - as he has all week. He wins the first three points in double quick time as a light rain continues to fall (the crowd look cold and wet, last week in Madrid they just looked cold). Novak caps the game with a second serve ace just to show off.

Novak gifts the first point to his opponent, dumping a return into the net. Then Andy works him round the court for a 30-0 lead, few nerves early on as he serves for the set. A big first serve then sets up a winner from Murray to make it 40-15 and two set points. Novak saves the first chance with a lovely deep return off Andy’s second serve but he takes the first set with a nice drop shot.

First set: *Djokovic 3-5 Murray (*denotes server)

Novak is going to make Andy serve for the set at least, and he’s been much better in the last few games - which augurs well for the world No1. Remember he’s dropped the first set twice in matches this week so there won’t be panic in the Novak camp just yet.

First set: Djokovic 2-5 Murray* (*denotes server)

Murray has 17 baseline points to Djokovic’s six so far, and the Serb is putting very little pressure on his opponent. It’s having an effect on the Scot too: it’s been a while since he’s looked as confident as this against his old rival. Djokovic picks up a drop shot to take the game to 30-30 though before the shot of the match from Murray, who rips a backhand down the line that Novak acknowledges with applause. Murray wins the next point to take the game.

First set: *Djokovic 2-4 Murray (*denotes server)

Much better from Novak as he stretches out to a 40-0 lead with a huge backhand that has Andy lunging across court in vain. He seals the game with an ace down the middle. Novak is 9-6 in finals between these two - but Andy is on top today ... so far.

First set: Djokovic 1-4 Murray* (*denotes server)

For some reason, Novak is unsettled out on court. It’s usually Andy who is mumbling and grumbling when the two face but the Scot is as placid as can be as his opponent slams his racket into the ground - it nearly bounces into a fan in the crowd too. Murray’s serve is, um, serving him well at the moment and a big one down the T takes him to 40-15. This is all incredibly comfortable for Andy at the moment - he’s dropped just one point on serve today.

First set: *Djokovic 1-3 Murray (*denotes server)

Novak has asked the umpire for a rain break, while Andy - who is flying along - seems happy to stay on court. Murray gets out to a 0-30 lead with a cross court forehand, and Djokovic shouts in frustration - whether at losing the point or the weather is unclear. He’s soon two break points down anyway, and Murray finally converts one to give himself an early advantage.

First set: Djokovic 1-2 Murray* (*denotes server)

The rain is falling in Rome and the umbrellas are up. In the meantime, Murray is by far the more aggressive player - if there is a rain break it will probably benefit Novak. Another easy hold to love for Andy, sealed with an ace.

First set: *Djokovic 1-1 Murray (*denotes server)

A long rally to start Novak’s first service game but a weak drop shot - his second of the match - plops into the net and Andy has a 0-15 lead. The world No1 is back to his best in the next point though: a powerful backhand is too much for Murray, who dumps his shot into the net. But a long forehand from Djokovic gives Murray chance to break at 30-40. He climbs all over a second serve from Novak but it’s just long and we’re at deuce. Another break point is saved with a strong first serve from the world No1. Then Andy has a great chance to break with the court wide open but sends his backhand long - he’d battled his way into the point brilliantly too. It’s not the first easy winner he’s missed either - Andy is doing the hard things well so far but he’s not so great on the simple things and Novak eventually holds after an 11 minute game.

First set: Djokovic 0-1 Murray* (*denotes server)

Andy Murray is 29 today, by the way. It’s been a good birthday week for him too: he’s yet to drop a set and has broken on 60% of his opponents’ service games. He’s serving first today and is soon 40-0 up - he’s far more confident in the opening game than he was in last week’s final in Madrid. He pushed Novak hard in that match, and that may have given him a little more confidence coming into today’s final. Murray holds to love.

“Could the post-Mauresom era be the beginning of a brilliant tournament winning streak that takes Andy through to victory at the US Open final and beyond? Will twisty-faced Djokovic capitulate now once, twice and forever more? And who speaks the better Italian?” asks Andrew Benton. Novak definitely speaks the better Serbian, I know that

Andy has won the coin toss and will serve first.

The Bryan brothers have won the men’s doubles in Rome, their third title in five events. And some people (me) thought they were finished. Meanwhile, Andy Murray comes out on court - he hasn’t won a title since Montreal last year. He’s followed closely by Novak and the final is minutes away.

These two have met in Rome before. In the semi-finals in 2011, Djokovic came out winner in a third set tiebreak after Murray had earlier served for the match at 5-4.

Hello, and welcome to Murray v Djokovic, Chapter 33. It’s a story which Novak has been dominating of late, having won 12 of their last 13 meetings including last week’s Madrid Masters final. Overall, the world No1 leads the series 23-9 and few would predict Murray upsetting the trend today. Having said that, Murray had a much smoother semi-final, beating Lucas Pouille in straight sets. In contrast, Djokovic had to fight off a spirited Kei Nishikori in a match that lasted over three hours (Murray won his match in under an hour).

Murray is also much improved on clay, with a 28-3 record on the surface since the start of the 2015 season (before that he was 63-37). Then again, against Novak he’s 0-4 on clay - but who isn’t? (although, I’ve never lost to Djokovic on ANY surface). Andy will also be back up to world No2 next week after reaching the final. As you may have guessed, Novak will just about cling on to world No1 with a lead of 1,298,746.38 points.
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assistant: Andy Murray saw off Novak Djokovic in straight sets to hand the world No1 a rare defeat and claim his first title at the Foro Italico