Best ATP Matches Of 2015: Part 2

Continuing our Season In Review Series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the best ATP World Tour matches of 2015. In today’s countdown we feature Nos. 2-1:

Andy Murray d. Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3/F/Montreal

Andy Murray acknowledged as much; that “there is no disgrace in losing to” Novak Djokovic, something that the Scotsman experienced on six of seven occasions in 2015, each time in a semi-final or final. But the newly minted year-end World No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings didn’t walk away empty-handed. In fact, his three-hour-long 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 triumph over the Serb for the Montreal title — his 11th career win over a World No. 1 — proved to be one of the most thrilling ATP World Tour matches of the year.

“To win this one was nice, especially the way the match went,” said Murray, who notched his third Rogers Cup title (2009, 2010). “It would have been easy for me to let that one slip away. But I fought well and stayed calm in the important moments of the third set.

“I think I did come up and play aggressively when I needed to — especially in the third set when I was brea kpoints down,” he continued. “I finished a couple of points at the net, got some free points on my first serve, as well. I would say the margins were so fine. I felt like I played as aggressively as I could.”

With Murray surging to 3-0 in the deciding set, the Serb regularly looked at his right elbow in discomfort. However, he refused to let go without a fight, surviving three championship points at 2-5 before the Scot closed it out 6-3 on his fifth match point.

Murray’s triumph snapped an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic, who was contesting a career-best ninth straight tour-level final dating back to the Australian Open. He was riding a 12-match winning streak in ATP Masters 1000 finals since falling to Roger Federer in the Cincinnati decider in 2012. He had won his past 30 ATP Masters 1000 matches.

“You never like losing, but any streak comes to an end,” Djokovic confided. “I did fight until the last point and did try my best. That’s something that I take as a positive.”

Murray’s victory marked just his ninth in 28 meetings with Djokovic. He had not beaten him since claiming the Wimbledon final in 2013 and despite the pair being back atop the Emirates ATP Rankings, Djokovic refused to call it the next great rivalry in the men’s game.

“I think we already have a rivalry. It’s not the next. It’s already existing there for many years,” he said. “Andy is deservedly a winner today on the court… He deserved it. He stepped in, played some great shots. Most of all the moments when he needed to, he served very, very well.”

Nick Kyrgios d. Roger Federer 6–7(2), 7–6(5), 7–6(12)/R32/Madrid

It’s not every day you get to take the court with your childhood idol. It’s not every day either that you come away with a dream win. But that’s exactly what Aussie young gun Nick Kyrgios pulled off in the second round at the Mutua Madrid Open, a 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) ATP World Tour Masters 1000-level stunner over Roger Federer, only the second Top-10 win of his career.

“Last night it was a bit tough to get some sleep knowing that I was going out there,” he said. “I’ve been playing well recently on the clay, so I knew I had a good chance to go out there and do well. I stuck to my game and served well and I got the win.”

The 20-year-old from Canberra halted Federer’s quest for a fourth title in Madrid in two hours and 37 minutes. Federer rallied from a break down to take the opening set, but Kyrgios would soon level the match. Neither player faced a break point in the third set, which boiled down to yet another tie-break. The top seed saved five match points before Kyrgios sealed the match in a tie-break, 14-12.

“This is my best win,” said Kyrgios. “He’s proven that he’s the best.  He can play on any surface.  Obviously, he’s the leading Grand Slam winner, done so much for the sport.”

In his first – and so far, only – meeting with Federer, Kyrgios fired 22 aces and won 79 percent of points on his first serve. However, the Aussie shotmaker would be cut down in the next round against John Isner, who fired 20 aces to Kyrgios’ 10.

“He likes the big stage,” said Federer. “He’s got nothing to lose, no fear, and he’s got a great game. He can rely on his serve so much. It keeps him in the match regardless of he how he plays from the baseline. All he needs to do is string a few good shots, a few good points together when it really matters.”

Kyrgios out-aced his veteran opponent 22-16 and won 79 per cent (67 of 85) first-serve points.

“I was definitely thinking about the finish line, which is probably not the greatest thing, especially against Federer,” Kyrgios confided. “He’s going to take advantage of that. But I thought as I was saving match points and he was saving match points, just have to go through your routine and pick a spot on your return, and try and do whatever you can. Probably had plenty to lose out there.  You’ve been out there three hours. You don’t want to lose 7‑6 in the third.”