MONTREAL – Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to win the US$4.1 million Rogers Cup on Sunday, ending an eight-match losing streak to the world’s top-ranked player.
Second-seeded Murray posted his fourth tournament victory of the year.
He won $685,200 for claiming the Rogers Cup for a third time after hoisting the trophy in 2009 and 2010. His three wins tie Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi for second place all-time behind Ivan Lendl’s six victories.
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The two top seeds split the first two sets in a three-hour match in hot, muggy conditions at Uniprix Stadium.
It played out with Murray serving at 3-1 in the third, already up a break.
A ferocious baseline battle went to deuce 10 times and Murray fought off six break points to all but put the match away.
Djokovic had two more break points in the final game, but Murray pounded two service winners and eventually won when Djokovic hit a ground stroke long after a brief rally.
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Djokovic, whose game ran hot and cold all week, missed a chance for a fifth straight win of the year at a masters 1000 tournament, one level below the grand slams, and a 25th in his career.
He was in a ninth straight tournament final, a run that included wins over Murray at the Australian Open and at Miami.
Murray is 9-19 in his career against Djokovic and beat the Serb for the first time since the 2013 Wimbledon final.
He lost his first match at an event last week in Washington, D.C, but with his performance this week, Murray will take over the world No. 2 ranking from Roger Federer for the third time in his career.
In the doubles final, twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 4-6, 6-3 10-6.
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