Murray, Serena clinch Rome titles
ROME: Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic on clay for the first time to win the Italian Open title on Sunday in a match that Djokovic argued should have been stopped due to rain.
Gaining a measure of revenge for his loss to Djokovic in the Madrid Open final a week ago, the third-ranked Murray defeated the top-ranked Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes.
Djokovic had won all four of their previous matches on clay but had to fight fatigue following draining wins over Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori.
It’s Murray’s first title in Rome and it comes exactly a week before the French Open begins.
Earlier, Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all-American women’s final.
RARE LOSS
Djokovic — who beat Nishikori 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the semi-final on Saturday — was not at his best and in a grumpy mood, complaining on several occasions to the umpire about the slippery court surface on a damp day at the Foro Italico.
He slumped to only his third defeat of the entire season, hitting a couple of errant forehands and a double fault in the final game before Murray — who made it through to the final with a clinical 6-2, 6-1 win over Frenchman Lucas Pouille — conjured up one inspirational backhand winner to lift the title.