© 2012 Daily Tennis News Wire -
Sony Ericsson Open
Miami
Sunday Men's Summary


Singles - Final: (1) N Djokovic def. (4) A Murray 6-1 7-6(7-4)
The intensity of the struggle in this match was simply amazing. The first five games along took more than forty points and lasted more than half an hour. But those five games ended up with Novak Djokovic up 4-1. The games mostly went faster after that, but obviously the match got closer. Murray never actually managed a break, although he several times built leads on the Djokovic serve.
It is "only" the second title for Djokovic this year, but what a pair -- Australian Open and Miami! It gives us an interesting situation in the Race (checking only the Top Ten):
Djokovic.....3540
Federer......2855
Nadal........2010
Murray.......1880
Ferrer.......1585
del Potro....1405
This made it a pretty big win for Djokovic -- his lead over Federer would have been rather slim had he not taken the title. Nadal is pretty far back, but of course the clay season is coming. A lot will depend on his knee.
We would say that Djokovic's win assures him a spot in the year-end Championships.
Had Murray won, he would have been #3 in the Race. As it is, he's not that far ahead of Ferrer and del Potro, and the clay season is probably better for them. So far in 2012, oddly enough, it's looking more like we have a Big Two and a Middle Sized Four. Had Murray won this, he would have changed the balance point significantly. It was a big chance lost.