Novak claims his second big title of the year in MIami
They have much in common.
It wasn’t only that both Sony Ericsson finalists were tall and spindly and wearing modest white caps and outfits before a full house on a Miami Sunday.
Both Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are in their-prime, 24-year olds who were born within a week of each other in 1987. Both survived severe childhood trauma – bombing in the Balkans and a mass murder in a Scottish school – before they left their homelands for intense Euro training and the pursuit of the Holy Grail. Soon they crafted sublime two-handed backhands. They became great movers, savvy on-court thinkers and eventually emerged to near the top of the pack to become pretenders to that most greatly coveted throne in tennis, the No. 1 ranking. Yes, for some seven years the top slot was owned by the game’s duopoly of Federer and Nadal. But Djokovic and Murray seemed to be the sport’s designated challengers.
Going into the Miami final, Djokovic had a career 7-5 winning record over Murray. But they were five-all on hard-courts. They split their only two Miami matches, as well as their two meetings this year. And, of course, both had long been all-but-official members – with Nadal and Federer – of tennis’ Fab Four, who now rule atop the game.
But, as Murray once said. “People only remember players who win things.” In 2010 Djokovic led Serbia to its first Davis Cup title, and last year he reeled off perhaps the greatest season in tennis history – astounding!
But Brit Murray – the hope of a storied but struggling tennis nation – has (like his new coach Ivan Lendl before him) faltered in the first three Slam finals he’s reached.
In other words, the Fab Four, for all they have in common, have differences. There is a gap between the No. 1 and the No. 4 players in the world.
In the Sony final, Djokovic, as he had been doing throughout the tourney, streaked out of the starting blocks. Serving well and punishing the Scot’s second serve, he broke twice in the first set and raced to 6-1 first set win.
This was fast, that was easy and Djokovic is a great front runner, with an awesome record when he wins the first set.
But Scots know how to weather storms.
In the second set, Murray continually struggled on his serve, but gamely fought in lengthy rallies. As he survived five break points, one wondered what Ivan Lendl – glum and severe behind a towel and no-nonsense shades – was thinking: just break, step in closer, be even more aggressive, forget the negative self-talk, I wish I could get out there.
But he couldn’t.
His pupil bravely hung in there to force a second set tie-break. But he was hardly brimming with confidence, as he double-faulted to start the overtime. But he then scored a drop shot winner to even matters, but once again double faulted to give Djokovic a 4-2 lead in the breaker, which the Serb promptly won to score a 6-1, 7-6 (4) to secure a workmanlike 2:17 win. Now only he, Agassi and Sampras could claim at least three Miami titles.
Okay, Djokovic is not quite on the same breathless winning streak as last year. After downing Nadal in a classic six-hour Aussie Open final, he lost two big semis: to Murray in Dubai and to John Isner in Indian Wells. But he rebounded with a certain “enough of this” resolve. En route to defending his Miami title, he didn’t drop a single set. Yes, last year at this time he was undefeated. Still, it’s hardly shabby to have a 90-8 record over the past two seasons, and to have claimed two of the three big tourneys so far this year.
Murray and others may have many aspects of their nomadic lives in common with Djokovic. Their games may have similarities.
But, after yet another Sunday of sublime movement, crafty angles and imposing game management, the Serbian, with all his quickness and flexibility, steely confidence, that underrated serve and unflinching resolve, is uncommon; a player apart.
The man who hopes to win the French Open in June (to secure a career Slam) and the Olympics in August (to bring golden glory to his little land,) clearly remains the player to beat in the sport of men’s tennis.
