Cincinnati Masters: Murray Beats Djokovic To Lift Crown

World number four Andy Murray won his second Cincinnati Masters crown when Novak Djokovic retired midway through the second set of their final on Sunday. Murray led 6-4, 3-0 when the world number one decided to hand him the match. Murray won his first title in Cincinnati in 2008.

This was only Djokovic’s second loss against 57 wins this year. A sore right shoulder caused Djokovic to retire hurt after he began to visibly slow down his serve toward the end of the first set.

Djokovic was philosophic about his injury, “Sometimes things can warm up when you play, sometimes they get worse. I just tried to stay focused.” The Serbian world number one said that wear and tear was normal for a player on the ATP circuit playing in tournaments week after week but added that that his shoulder problem had worsened during the week.

Djokovic was confident that his injury would heal before the US Open started on August 29. “The good thing is that there is a week, eight days to the start of the US Open. So I think that’s enough time for me to get ready.”

Murray began with a service break taking advantage of a sluggish start by Djokovic. But the Serbian fought back to level things at 3-3. But the Scotsman broke back to take the lead at 4-3, volleying a winner past a bemused Djokovic after a long baseline rally.

Djokovic’s shoulder continued to trouble him and his serve speed visibly reduced; Murray took the first set after Djokovic played a forehand into the net.

After the first set, the Serbian was given medical treatment by his trainer who massaged his shoulder. But the shoulder apparently didn’t respond sufficiently well to the treatment and after he struggled to reach for an overhead, Djokovic decided to withdraw, with Murray 3-0 up in the second set.

The Serbian tried to consoled his supporters after the match, “I really tried. Didn’t make sense for me to continue.”

His serve and his forehand had been hindered by his injury, he said, especially whenever he went full-stretch.

“I could have maybe played another couple of games, but what for?” he said. “I cannot beat a player like Murray today with one stroke. Of course I’m not saying if I was 100 percent that I would certainly win because Andy is a great player. But I am sure that we will have a better match.”

This was Murray’s second title of 2011 after winning at Queen’s Club, ahead of Wimbledon. In his only other appearance in a  final, Murray lost to Djokovic at the Australian Open.

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