Andy Murray to face Novak Djokovic in year's first final

By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jan 2017, 19:45 BST
Updated 9th Jan 2017, 13:00 BST
Andy Murray, right, greets Czech Republics Tomas Berdych at the net following their semi-final at the ATP Qatar Open in Doha. Picture: Karim Jafaar/AFP/GettyAndy Murray, right, greets Czech Republics Tomas Berdych at the net following their semi-final at the ATP Qatar Open in Doha. Picture: Karim Jafaar/AFP/Getty
Andy Murray, right, greets Czech Republics Tomas Berdych at the net following their semi-final at the ATP Qatar Open in Doha. Picture: Karim Jafaar/AFP/Getty
Andy Murray will face Novak Djokovic in the final of the Qatar Open today following a straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych.

The world No 1 had won his last six meetings with the Czech, including last year’s Wimbledon semi-final, and eased to a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an hour and 43 minutes.

Murray went on court 
knowing defending champion Djokovic lay in wait and showed no signs of repeating the stuttering start he made to his quarter-final with Nicolas Almagro the previous day.

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After the first three games went with serve, the Scot broke to make it 3-1 and never looked back as he produced one of ten aces to clinch the opening set after just 48 minutes.

Berdych, coached by former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, showed some resistance early in the second set but could not capitalise on a couple of break points in the second game before immediately failing to hold his own service. The pair then exchanged breaks before Murray saw the set out.

Murray, who won the tournament in 2008 and 2009, has now recorded 28 consecutive victories.

“I want to try to keep it going, I feel a little bit like this year’s a fresh start,” he said. “The end to last year was a great way to finish the year but it’s great to be through to the final here and a great match against Novak tomorrow to look 
forward to.

“It’s been the perfect week to get ready for the Australian Open.”

On the performance of world No 10 Berdych, Murray added: “I played him at the end of last year and he was playing super aggressive there so I kind of expected that a little bit. I saw his match yesterday and he was playing more aggressive maybe than in the past so I was maybe better prepared for it this time.”

Djokovic saved a remarkable five match points as he completed a thrilling three-set win over Fernando Verdasco to set up the final against Murray.