ATP China Open: Andy Murray beaten by Novak Djokovic in semi-final
Saturday 4 October 2014 14:25, UK
Andy Murray’s winning run in Beijing has come to an end after he was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the China Open.
The Scot had reached the last-four with an impressive straight sets victory over US Open champion Marin Cilic, but could not find a way past his old rival Djokovic in Beijing.
The first set was going comfortably with serve until the eighth game, which lasted for nine minutes, as Murray tried to resist his Serbian opponent’s determined attempt to break him.
He saw off two break points and then advanced to game point, but fired a forehand long to allow Djokovic another break point, which the British No 1 surrendered with a return into the net.
Trouble
The world No 1 then closed out the set, spelling trouble for Murray, who had never beaten Djokovic after losing the opener.
His task became tougher at the start of the second set as a couple of unforced errors allowed the Serb to break him to love in the opening game and he soon opened up a 2-0 lead.
Murray held serve in the third game and had two break points in a 10-minute battle in the fourth before Djokovic held his nerve to make it 3-1.
He had a further break point to extend his lead, but Murray fought back and made the breakthrough at the third time of asking to level things at 3-3.
Both men then held their serve, but Djokovic forged a crucial break to move 5-4 up and duly served out the final game to love to book his place in the final.
Djokovic will play third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in Sunday's final. Berdych beat Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan 6-4 6-1 in the second semi.
See how Djokovic fares in the final of the China Open. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 3 HD at 12:30pm on Sunday.
