Novak & Andy: The Rivalry, Matches 1-10

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2011 Western & Southern Open final, Cincinnati, Murray d. Djokovic 64 30 ret.
Andy Murray was the in-form player of the week. On a roll winning six of seven games, Murray led 3-0 in the second set before Djokovic retired with a shoulder injury. Murray did not drop a set en route to lifting the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy for the second time. "I would have obviously liked to have won by finishing the match," said Murray. "But it happens sometimes. I have to look at the week as a whole. It's been a very good week. I’m glad I managed to win today, but unfortunate the way it happened.”

2011 Internazionali BNL d'Italia semi-final, Rome, Djokovic d. Murray 61 36 76(2)
After splitting the first two sets, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray went toe-to-toe on the baseline, producing several grueling rallies. Murray looked to become the first player to beat Djokovic in 2011, having served for the match at 5-4. Djokovic though, continued to fight and after being within two points of defeat on four occasions, broke Murray to level. The Serb then capitalised in the ensuing tie-break to improve to a 38-0 season record with a memorable win. "Andy played a really good match tonight. He was unfortunate not to finish it out," stated Djokovic. "It’s an amazing achievement... a great effort from both of us." Added Murray, “It was good match and I had chances to win. He played very well in the first set and I did not really get into it. I think after that, especially towards the end of the second and third sets, there was some very good tennis.”

2011 Australian Open final, Melbourne, Djokovic d. Murray 64 62 63
Meeting for the first time at a Grand Slam event, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray faced each other for the title. The combination of Djokovic’s impressive level of play and Murray’s inconsistency throughout the match resulted in a routine 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory for Djokovic, giving the Serbian his second Australian Open title in four years, and denying Murray his first major title in his third attempt. "[Winning a] Davis Cup title and another Grand Slam title, I'm living the dream of a tennis player, definitely," declared Djokovic. "I have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than I have ever been before. To be able to win in straight sets against a player like Andy in the final of a Grand Slam, it makes my success even bigger."

2009 Sony Open Tennis final, Miami, Murray d. Djokovic 62 75
Andy Murray dominated the first set, but was forced to come back from a 2-5 deficit in the second set. The decisive moment came when he broke Novak Djokovic in the ninth game on a Hawk Eye call. On his first set point Djokovic lost out in a rally and on the second he double-faulted. Murray drew level in the next game and broke for a 6-5 lead, having a bit of luck when his return clipped the top of the net and an off-balance Djokovic hit wide. "The conditions were tough, running around out there it was tricky. He started to come to the net a bit more and I lost my timing a bit but I was able to get it back," said Murray. Djokovic, below his best, admitted, "I was, I think, the biggest enemy to myself. I was struggling again and trying to adjust to the heat. I managed to come back in the second set but I didn't play smart at 5-3. I had two set points.” Murray has now won three straight matches against Djokovic.

2008 Western & Southern Open final, Cincinnati, Murray d. Djokovic 76(4) 76(5)
In their first professional final meeting, Andy Murray battled to beat Novak Djokovic for his first Cincinnati title. Djokovic saved four championship points when Murray served for the title at 5-3 in the second set. But the Scot won in the tie-break on his sixth championship point with a backhand winner into space. Murray said, “I played in these conditions all week so maybe I was more used to it. There were lots of long, long rallies which took a toll and we were both tired at the end. My Wimbledon win against [Richard] Gasquet gave me a lot of confidence and this will give me even more."

2008 Rogers Cup quarter-finals, Toronto, Murray d. Djokovic 63 76(3)
Andy Murray, who had lost all four previous meetings against Novak Djokovic, tore up the form guide to win an emphatic straights sets win. Murray had to be at his defensive best to repel the defending champion's powerful groundstrokes. Assessing the magnitude of the victory, Murray said, "Mentally, that's probably the biggest one of my career. He's going to be around for a long time. So to come through against him, especially when he beat me convincingly four times, is very satisfying.” Murray broke for a 3-0 lead in the first set and broke at 2-2 in the second set, before Djokovic broke back for 4-4.

2008 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters third round, Monte-Carlo, Djokovic d. Murray 60 64
Novak Djokovic triumphed in 78 minutes, converting four of his five break point opportunities in a dominant performance that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

2007 Sony Open Tennis semi-finals, Miami, Djokovic d. Murray 61 60
Novak Djokovic humbled Andy Murray by breaking winning the last 11 games in Murray’s heaviest defeat of the 2007 season.

2007 BNP Paribas Open semi-finals, Indian Wells, Djokovic d. Murray 62 63
Andy Murray carried a slight injury from his quarter-final win over Tommy Haas, but Novak Djokovic was at his best winning 20 of his 24 first service points in a 63-minute victory. The win put Djokovic through to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. He finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal.

2006 Mutua Madrid Open third round, Madrid, Djokovic d. Murray 16 75 63
Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in their first meeting, converting three of his six break point opportunities for victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

Novak & Andy: Matches 21-30 | Matches 11-20 | Matches 1-10