• Rome Masters

Djokovic outlasts Murray in match of the year contender

Novak Djokovic is unbeaten in 36 matches this year © Getty Images

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Rome Masters seedings

Andy Murray tried but ultimately failed to derail the Novak Djokovic steam train on Saturday, losing one of the most thrilling matches of the year in the Rome Masters semi-finals.

Even Rafael Nadal, on his favoured clay surface, has fallen short when faced by Djokovic this season, with the Serb now just six matches short of equalling John McEnroe's record start to a calendar year. Djokovic had dropped only 11 games in three matches to reach the last four, thrashing Robin Soderling en route, yet it took him over three hours to shake off the nuisance that was Murray.

The British No. 1 was attempting to become the first Briton since Buster Mottram to reach a clay-court final on the ATP Tour. Mottram achieved the feat in 1982, but Murray could not follow suit in a 6-1 3-6 7-6(2) defeat that featured some quite staggering tennis.

The pre-match stats did not look good for Murray, who trailed the head-to-head 5-3, losing their last encounter at the Australian Open, as well as the duo's previous clash on clay, back at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2008. Djokovic started rapidly too, breaking instantly for 2-0.

Murray momentarily slowed the world No. 2's progress, making Djokovic's second service game last 15 minutes, eventually converting his third break point, which had been created by a running forehand down the line that even earned the applause of Djokovic.

However, as is so often the case in the big matches, Murray was playing back-foot tennis and he quickly got broken again for 3-1. A lazy backhand into the net then handed Djokovic his third break of the set, and he quickly served out to become the third man this week to take a set off the British No. 1.

Andy Murray contributed to an excellent match © PA Photos

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Having worked so hard to become the first Brit since 1932 to reach the semi-finals of this event, Murray was in danger of exiting the competition in the blink of an eye. However, the Scot had lost the first set of his clash with Florian Mayer by the same margin, and he hinted at a similar turnaround when holding the opening service game of the second set to love.

The threat of a comeback grew when Murray broke for 4-2, and he kept playing with plenty of depth to close out the set for 1-1 and parity in the contest.

The quality of Djokovic's strokes was outstanding, but he was now struggling to find a route past a human wall as Murray hunted down everything from deep behind the baseline. Even when he found a break in the fourth game, courtesy of a brilliant lob, Murray hit back immediately to cancel out the deficit.

Like a boxer who had thrown everything he had to offer only to see his opponent keep coming, Djokovic's spirit was evaporating and his strapped knee deteriorating. When a double-fault handed Murray three break points at 0-40, the match appeared to have swung for a final time.

However, like all great champions, Djokovic found another gear to level at 4-4 and then, after another Murray break, the Serb answered again for 5-5 as the match edged towards the fitting finale of a tiebreak.

Three unforced errors from Murray handed Djokovic the advantage, and for the first time in the contest, the Brit could no longer find any magic to haul himself back from the precipice.

Djokovic will now face Nadal in Sunday's final.

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