Novak Djokovic ended Andy Murray's ATP Sony Open title
defence and advanced to the semi-finals with a fractious 7-5 6-3 victory in
Miami.
For Djokovic, a three-time winner in Miami, the victory
was a small measure of revenge as the rivals clashed for the first time since
Murray beat the Serb in last year's Wimbledon final.
With little separating the players throughout, the game
hinged on a controversial moment in the first set, when Djokovic was leading
6-5.
"I think he (Djokovic) made a clear, legal volley
and I don't think it's a call you can make on yourself. I don't blame Novak in
that instance."
Leif on first set controversy
With Murray serving to stay in the set Djokovic advanced
and appeared to play the ball before it passed over the net - which is against
the rules and should have seen the point overturned.
The moment was a turning point and although the point
stood, Murray seemed to be unable to put it to the back of his mind and lost
the game against his serve, with Djokovic duly claiming the first set.
Protest
The world number two then wrapped up the second set in
comfortable fashion, with Murray still discussing the controversial moment deep
into the contest.
The match went on serve in the first set - although
Murray had to fight to hold in the fourth game - until the controversial moment
swung the momentum into Djokovic's favour.
Murray was serving to level at 6-6 when Djokovic rushed
forward and appeared to hit the ball while his racquet was over the net and not
on his side of the court.
Murray complained to the chair umpire but his protests
fell on deaf ears, and Djokovic duly claimed the game to love to take the first
set 7-5.
The Scot continued his protest in between sets but to no
avail, and his Serbian opponent was on top as he quickly served to claim a lead
in the second.
However, the match settled down and the two men matched
each other game for game until Murray broke Djokovic in the fifth, only to
suffer a break of his own serve in the very next game.
Djokovic broke again to take a 5-3 lead and served out
the next game to love to claim the second set and the match 7-5 6-3 in one hour
and 30 minutes.
Djokovic said: "I was not surprised about the way he
played. I expected him to play well, to be a little bit more aggressive.
"I tried to not allow him to be in the comfort zone
because, when he strikes the zone, when he feels comfortable on the court, he's
striking the ball so well, maybe best in the world."
Regarding his dispute with the umpire, Murray said:
"I wasn't sure, from where I was standing, it was a very hard thing to
see.
"I knew it was close, so that's why I went and asked
Novak, and he told me he was over the net. That was it.
"(The chair umpire) said, 'yes, he was over the net
but he was in line with the net,' so I didn't really understand.
"It maybe had a slight bearing on that game but I
was still up a break in the second set."
Culled from Skysports
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