(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Defending champion Novak Djokovic managed to dig just a little deeper to defeat world No.1 Andy Murray 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha yesterday.
The Serb dug deep and found extra reserves of energy - just when he looked at his lowest in the third and deciding set to end the 28-game winning streak of Murray on his way to the winner's purse.
The win was a sweet revenge for the former world No.1 who lost to Murray in the November ATP Finals, the last match of the 2016 season. The year-end No. 1 ATP Ranking was on the line, and Murray won 6-3, 6-4.
Despite yesterday's loss the Scot will stay World No. 1. Yesterday, Djokovic took control of his own serve putting the pressure back on Murray.
The defending champion held his serve in the first set and broke the Briton in the eight game to have an upper hand early on.
The early-season clash between the world's two best players just a week shy of the Australian Open kept the packed house on its toes throughout the two hours 54-minute dual.
The sixth game was the best one of the first set, featuring two terrific rallies - first a brilliant drop shot-lob combo from Djokovic, but Murray fought back and won a marathon rally with a brilliant cross-court drop shot of his own, with Murray able to hold his serve at three-all. In the eight game Murray struggled - missed a routine backhand, went long again and but then skied a forehand long to give Djokovic the break.
Thereafter, the Serb held his serve and the former world No.1 finished off with a brutal forehand winner down the line to take it at 6-3.
In the second set, Murray saved three match points at 5-4 down and broke twice in a row to take the second set and level the match.
Djokovic had his chances to wrap up proceedings but could not capitalize in the second set. In the eighth game, Murray saves one break point but then double faults to give Djokovic a potentially decisive advantage at 4-3. But with a game away from seeing his 28-match winning run end, Murray changed things around.
The Briton broke Djokovic serve as frustration crept into his rival's game.
Murray took a point off an error by Djokovic, who smashed his racket and was promptly docked a point to give Murray the game, the world No.1 went on to win the second set at 7-5.
From there on the match went a distance. Murray got all the momentum in the decider after the match point drama of the second set.
The Scot started hitting the ball so cleanly for the first time in the match.
But the champion fighter that Djokovic is he clawed his way back to break Murray in the seventh game to make it 4-3 and held his serve to have an upper hand in the decider at 5-3.
Murray held his nerve and then Djokovic reeled off his four straight points to win a marathon three-setter at 6-4.
With yesterday's win, Djokovic extended his winning to 25 against Murray's 11 in 36 matches they have contested so far.
"It's definitely one of the best ways to start the year," the Serbian said.
"All the way to the last shot you never know with Andy. It's no strange occurrence for both of us to play three sets for three hours. It's a very physical battle and we're both going to need some time to recover from that and get ready for Melbourne," Djokovic added.
With yesterday's win, Djokovic also ended Murray's 28-match win streak.
Murray had won two back to back titles like Djoikovic in 2008, and 2009.
On Friday, Murray advanced to the title match by beating third seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 to push his overall winning streak to 28.
He also beat Berdych for the seventh consecutive time, dating back to a 2015 Australian Open semi-final victory.
Earlier on Friday, second seed Djokovic moved into the title contest by saving five match points and beating Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-3 in two hours and 22 minutes.
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