Novak Djokovic wins again at ATP finals

“This is maybe one of the biggest matches we will ever play, so let’s enjoy it”.

The ATP’s year-end will be decided by a popcorn final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. And he did it, rather easily.

Murray made a mockery of a gruelling three-hour semi-final clash with Milos Raonic on Saturday to dispatch 12-time grand slam victor Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 – the Scot’s 24th consecutive victory.

“I think we have played better matches together”, Murray said.

“I started off very well and got a 4-0 lead”, said Djokovic, the defending champion.

Novak Djokovic (SRB) and Andy Murray (GBR) at the net after their match on day 15 of the 2016 French Open.

“I couldn’t have done it without my team”.

He got a pre-match boost just before stepping on court when he learned his brother Jamie was guaranteed to finish the year as doubles world number one with partner Bruno Soares.

If Novak Djokovic loses to Kei Nishikori in the second semifinal later Saturday, Murray will automatically guarantee the year-end top ranking.

The edge-of-the-seat match lasted for three hours and 39 minutes before the more experienced Murray saw off his rival. Nishikori held his serve only once all match. From the very beginning, we could see that. I just wanted to go out and give everything I had and thankfully it was enough.

Djokovic struggled to impose himself throughout, making 30 unforced errors, whilst Murray was ruthless in punishing an opponent against whom he has generally struggled.

In extending his personal-record winning streak to a remarkable 24 matches, Murray claimed his fifth title in succession and denied Djokovic a fifth consecutive triumph in the season-ending tournament.

“I didn’t do much from my side”.

“I would like to try and stay there, obviously”.

“On the other side, he played a lot of matches, especially in the last couple of months, and he won them all”.

He took over the top spot on November 7 after winning his eighth title of the season at the Paris Masters. In the five months following Murray’s loss to Novak Djokovic in the French Open, Murray did not face Djokovic, who was suddenly in a slump, nor did he beat a top-five player during his wonderful stretch that saw him win titles at, in order, Queen’s, Wimbledon, the Rio Olympics, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna and Bercy.