Andy Murray loses Madrid Masters crown and top-two ranking after Novak Djokovic final defeat

Djokovic beat Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reaffirm his supremacy over all his rivals

Djokovic holds aloft his winners trophy after his three set victory against Murray (Getty)

The opening weeks of the clay-court season had suggested the world order in the men’s game might be shifting but Novak Djokovic confirmed in the final of the Madrid Masters that he has no intention of allowing anyone to take his mantle as the world’s best player. Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reaffirm his supremacy over all his rivals, though his opponent could also take plenty of encouragement from the manner of his comeback after being comprehensively outplayed in the opening set.

Nevertheless Murray’s defeat meant that he gave up both his Madrid title and the world No 2 ranking, which will pass back to Roger Federer in Monday's updated list. However, with Federer having 600 ranking points to defend in this week’s Rome Masters, Murray will be favourite to take back that position in time for the French Open, which starts in just under a fortnight's time.

Being No 2 going into Roland Garros would mean that Murray could not face Djokovic before the final in Paris, though on his present form the Scot should fear nobody. In his two tournaments during the current clay-court season Murray has reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, where he lost to a resurgent Rafael Nadal, and this final in Madrid, where he pushed Djokovic to the limit, having beaten Nadal in the semi-finals 24 hours earlier.

Murray, however, will be well aware that this was still his 12th defeat in his last 13 meetings with Djokovic dating back to his victory in the Wimbledon final of 2013. Djokovic’s domination of the world game grows with almost every passing tournament. He has now won five of the last six Masters Series tournaments and ten of the last 14. In his career he has won 29 Masters Series titles, more than any other player in history.

It was a chilly and damp evening in the Spanish capital as the two long-time rivals took the court. Djokovic was quickly into his stride, while Murray took a long time to warm up in the desperately slow conditions.

Djokovic took the first set in just 31 minute as Murray initially looked a shadow of the man who had stunned Nadal 24 hours earlier. Indeed there were times when he looked so out of sorts that you wondered whether he might not be 100 per cent fit.

The world No 1 broke serve in the opening game with a smart volley and again in the fifth with a forehand winner. Murray won just three points on Djokovic’s serve in the whole set, at the end of which it seemed that he might be heading for one of his most crushing defeats.

However, Murray began the second set in a much better frame of mind. When Djokovic served at 1-2 the Scot’s pressure induced the first signs of weakness in his opponent. Two unforced errors by Djokovic gave Murray his first break points of the match and he took the second of them when the Serb double-faulted for the first time. It was only the second time in the whole tournament that Djokovic had dropped his serve.

Murray served out to take the second set in some style, his rediscovered confidence emphasised when he levelled the match with a perfectly judged drop shot. Remarkably, it was only the second set Djokovic had dropped in his last 34 against top 10 opponents in Masters Series tournaments.

Djokovic was taken to deuce when he served in the opening game of the deciding set but the world No 1 held on and then broke to go 2-0 up with some commanding play from the back of the court. However, just when it seemed that the Serb had re-established his authority he double-faulted on break point in the following game.

Murray held serve for 2-2, only for Djokovic to up his game once again. The world No 1 broke again to lead 4-2 with some stunning attacking play, but now it was Murray’s turn to fight back as the deciding set turned into an enthralling contest. At 2-5 the Scot went match point down with a double fault but won the next point with an ace and eventually held serve.

When Djokovic went 0-40 down when serving at 3-5 it seemed that Murray might be on the verge of a remarkable comeback but the Serb brought the score back to deuce. In a remarkable 14-minute game that featured some superb tennis from both men Murray had four more break points, but Djokovic saved them all.

Djokovic scorned a second match point with a forehand error, but on his third the world No 1 closed out his victory after two hours and six minutes as Murray missed a forehand. It had been a contest worthy of its billing as a meeting between the world’s top two players.