Novak Djokovic struggles past Andy Murray in the semi-final of Internazionali BNL d’Italia
It seems Novak “Nole” Djokovic of Serbia cannot be beaten this season as he extended his winning streak after successfully doing away with close friend, Brit Andy Murray, in the semi-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia at Rome, Italy on Saturday, May 14, 2011.
Surviving a mid match lapse, Djokovic was able to do away with Murray in almost three hours securing a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2) victory.
In their second meeting this season, Djokovic now leads the year-to-date head-to-head 2-0 against the Brit. The pair had last met in the title match of the season opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open, where Nole had enjoyed a straight sets victory over Murray.
A splendid opening to the match, Djokovic broke Murray in the latter’s first serve game to enjoy a 2-0 lead. Things started to heat up in the third game when Murray fought back on Nole’s serve. After five deuces, Murray was able to break the Serb’s serve with a smashing forehand followed by a well placed backhand.
However, this was the last game that the Scot won, as Djokovic reeled off four straight games to clinch a bread stick win for himself.
Enjoying a 1-0 lead in the set score, many expected the match to end, like many of the Serb’s other semi-finals, in straight sets.
However, the Brit had other plans. Fighting back hard, Murray was able to secure a 4-2 lead in the second set as Djokovic sent two successive shots flying outside the court. Serving for the set at 5-3, Murray was able to sail into a comfortable 6-3 victory for himself.
With one set each, the match was forced into a decider. The deciding set was perhaps the most hard-fought set of the match with both professionals giving it their all to secure a final berth for themselves.
Although Djokovic was able to secure an early break in the nineteenth game, going 3-1 in the score, Murray was able to bring the score back on even terms as he broke the Serb in the very next game.
Holding onto their serves for the next six games, the set entered into a tiebreaker. Rushing to an early 2-0 lead, Djokovic sent the Brit running all over the court as he extended his lead to 4-1 in the tiebreaker. Serving at 6-2, Djokovic outsmarted Murray with a brilliant drop shot, closing the tiebreaker at 7-2 and ensuring his survival at the event – and his winning streak of 36 games.
The semi-final was perhaps the most hard-fought match for the Serb in the entire contest.
Djokovic now moves on to meet, the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal in the final. This will be the pair’s fourth meeting for the season. The unstoppable Serb has emerged victorious on all three occasions.
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