Novak Djokovic totally outplayed Andy Murray, says Annabel Croft
Saturday 17 October 2015 17:43, UK
Andy Murray looked “lost” as he crumbled to a lopsided defeat to Novak Djokovic, said Annabel Croft.
The British No 1 was thrashed 6-1 6-3 in the Shanghai Rolex Masters semi-finals as he found his long-time rival Djokovic to be in scintillating form.
The heavy defeat reminded Sky Sports expert Croft of Murray's 6-0 6-1 loss to Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals in London last year - and she hopes the Dunblane man can repeat his positive recovery.
"We all thought the match at the O2 was going to be damaging but actually, he responded very well and it was actually a motivating factor," Croft told Sky Sports.
"It is a very painful loss and he looked almost lost out there. He still fought to the bitter end but, to be outplayed the way that he was, was just extraordinary.
It is a very painful loss and he looked almost lost out there. He still fought to the bitter end but, to be outplayed the way that he was, was just extraordinary.
"You play as well as you're allowed to play and Djokovic didn't allow Murray to play his best tennis.
"He's such a great competitor that he's not used to being strummed off court with that kind of score-line."
Murray endured difficulties with his serve, notching four double-faults, amid a further 17 unforced errors.
Croft believes that Djokovic's aggression against the serve is a key reason that Murray had such issues.
She said: "When you watch Djokovic, I find it fascinating that after he serves he almost half-volleys the first ball. Murray is a great returner but Djokovic effortlessly strikes that ball from deep at the base-line but then is able to still move forwards and impose his game.
"It stresses an opponent when a player returns serve as well as Novak does. Andy was facing returns an inch to the base-line. That stresses your first serve enormously, causes the missed first serve, and looks at the second serve.
"So many times, Andy was pushed into a defensive position which he wasn't against Tomas Berdych. He was having to fight so hard to just get into the points."
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