Britain’s Andy Murray snapped an eight-match losing streak against top-ranked rival Novak Djokovic on Sunday night to win the ATP Montreal Masters only hours after his coach Amelie Mauresmo gave birth.
Murray needed five championship points and three hours to see off the Serbian 6-4 4-6 6-3 in a tense final, snapping an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic in the process.
Speaking after the match, Murray dedicated the win to Mauresmo, announcing that she gave birth to a baby boy.
“My coach gave birth to a baby boy this morning – I’m not sure she will have stayed up to watch this one. I’m sure she was a little bit tired, but Amelie this one’s for you, thank you,” he said.
First blood went to Murray as he broke Djokovic at just the second attempt but it was not easy as the Serbian survived four break points before going down on the fifth as Murray took an early 3-1 lead.
Murray faced his first break point at 4-2 and an over-hit forehand put Djokovic immediately back into the match, but he had more joy on the top seed’s serve soon after to clinch the first set 6-4.
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Like a wounded animal Djokovic was a man on a mission at the start of the second set, successfully attacking Murray’s serve, but his own continued to creak as the Briton took advantage of a weak second serve pull it back to 3-3.
The world No 1 made sure of a deciding set by breaking back straight away and going on to win the second set 6-4.
The decider was punctuated by a series of games that turned into wars, with neither man prepared to give away an inch. Murray put himself 3-0 in front, with Djokovic noticeably looking down towards his right forearm and grimacing.
But the Serbian does not know how to give up and fought back to put the Scot’s serve under pressure at 3-1, forcing five break points, before Murray made it 4-1. Djokovic survived three championship points at 5-2, before Murray eventually claimed the final set 6-3.