Novak Djokovic crushed Andy Murray 6-2 6-4 to clinch his fourth title in Paris and became the first player to win six Masters 1000 tournaments in the same season. He has done better than his coach Boris Becker who won this tournament three times in 1986, 1989 and 1992 and Marat Safin who lifted this trophy in 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Djokovic broke serve to love in the third game to take the 2-1 lead winning eight consecutive points. Murray won the next game at deuce with a drop-shot winner from the baseline. Murray fended off three break points in a 16-point fifth game which lasted 11 minutes to hold his service game. In the seventh game Djokovic got the double break to pull away to a 5-2 lead before closing out on his first set point after 42 minutes.
Murray saved a break point in the first game of the second set at deuce to take a 1-0 lead. At 1-1 Murray faced a break point which Djokovic converted on his first opportunity for 2-1. Murray broke back to love with a second serve return to draw level to 2-2. Murray went up 0-30 on Djokovic’s serve at 3-2 but Djokovic won eight of the next nine points to hold his serve before getting the crucial break in the seventh game for 4-3.
Djokovic backed up his break to go ahead 5-3 with his service winner before earning two match points as he was serving out for the match and converted his first chance to win 6-2 6-4 after 92 minutes for his fourth title in Paris Bercy and his sixth Masters 1000 triumph in 2015.
Djokovic fired 10 winners and converted four of his nine break point chances to extend his winning streak to 22 matches. Murray, who reached the final in Paris Bercy for the first time in his career, made too many unforced errors and was unable to break Djokovic who has beaten the Dunblane star in six of his seven matches this year.
Djokovic has won 10 of his last 11 head-to-head matches against Murray and now leas 21-9 in all their 30 clashes. He has become the first player to win four titles in Paris Bercy, one more than his coach Boris Becker, who won here three time n 1986, 1989 and 1992
He has extended his record to 78 winning matches this year. No players before in tennis history has won so many Masters 1000 as Djokovic in a single season. With his 26th career Masters 1000 title Djokovic is just title away from reaching Rafa Nadal who holds the record with 27 trphies in the Masters 1000 tournaments
Djokovic has become the first player in the Open Era to reach 14 consecutive finals in a calender year and won six Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Rome, Shanghai and Paris Bercy losing two more finals in Montreal and Cincinnati. He has not lost a match since the Cincinnati final against Roger Federer last August. He suffered his last pre-final defeat against Ivo Karlovic in the Doha quarter finals. He has played in all Masters 1000 finals during his career and won eight of them at least once. The only tournament he has not won yet is Cincinnati.
“I want to congratulate with Andy for the great week and I wish him all the best for the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Final. It’s always very special to win in Paris, a city with a great sport tradition and culture. I hope to win the Roland Garros in the future”, said Djokovic after the match
Murray isthe fourth player in history to reach at least the semifinal stage in all Masters 1000 tournaments after Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. The Scotsman has become the first British player to reach the final in Paris Bercy since Tim Henman. Murray has won 68 matches so far this year setting a personal record (his previous record was 66 in 2009)
“Congratulations to Novak for another fantastic week. It’s been another great year for him. He fully deserves the number one spot. Hopefully I can get a bit closer next year. It was a pleasure to play here this week in the beautiful stadium. It’s been a great week for me, first time past the quarter finals. That’s progress and I hope to be back next year”, said Murray
