How Djokovic beat Murray in the Miami Open final

1. Djokovic wins 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-0
2. Djokovic leads head-to-head 18-8, winning the past seven meetings
3. Serb is now five-time Miami champion, Murray has won title twice
4. Murray climbs to third in the world despite defeat

Andy Murray has his wedding next Saturday to look forward to now.

James Corden, Tim Henman and Sue Barker are all rumoured to be on the guestlist.

I wonder which of that little trio will be first on the dancefloor.

Like the British number one, we are all done with tennis for now. Today's report is up on the site. See you next time.

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Rafael Nadal left Miami admitting that his confidence was pretty much shot.

Novak Djokovic leaves in something approaching the best form of his life.

Who is your favourite for the French Open, where Nadal has won nine titles and Djokovic none, now?

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Orange tickertape streams into the air as Novak Djokovic lifts the trophy. Andy Murray copped a faceful of the litter as he stood next to the victor on the podium. I'm not sure he appreciated that.

Despite both players paying tribute to the other in their speeches, they barely exchange a glance, let alone a word, as they pose for the photos.

It's only amateur psychology, but relations between the pair seem decidedly cool.

Novak Djokovic: "I want to thank my team for hanging in there through good and bad times. Thank you Mr Boris for joining the club. This is one of the best tournaments on the calendar with lots of options both on and off court and I hope it continues for many years to come."

Andy Murray: "It has been a good start to the year for me so far. I'm not quite there where Novak is at, but I feel I am getting there. I just need to keep working hard. I want to thank the crowd for the atmosphere on court here, sorry I couldn't make more of a fight of the final set. My legs were just hurting and I couldn't quite do it."

This is a court Andy Murray knows so well he claims he can anticipate every little spit and pop depending on where the ball lands.

These were conditions that traditionally Novak Djokovic struggles in.

And still Djokovic was too strong, mentally and physically, for Murray to get close to.

Game, set and match

Is that a hint of nerves?

Novak Djokovic loses the first point as his serve goes a little screwy and then misses with his first tee-off at 0-15.

Murray, playing with the freedom of a condemned man, then summons up a supreme backhand pass to work up 30-40 and a break point.

Djokovic knows the code to get through the door to the winners' enclosure though. He works Murray over, spraying shots to either wing to see off the danger.

A press to the net and a backhand punch volley hammer the final nail into his victory.

Novak Djokovic will now serve for a fifth Miami Open title and a seventh successive win over Andy Murray.

Djokovic breaks

Well, this has got out of hand real quick.

Novak Djokovic is suddenly eyeing up a bagel for dinner as he racks up 15-40. Djokovic won the final set of their Australian Open final meeting 6-0 remember.

Andy Murray batters back those two break points but misses with his first serve on a third and then plants a backhand plum between the tramlines.

Novak Djokovic shows no sign of budging his heel off Murray's jugular. The Serb compounds his break with a solid hold, Murray barely laying leather on his opponent's serve.

Djokovic breaks

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A double break and that is the sort of fracture that usually means the amputation of a final set.

Andy Murray, perhaps still battling with the sun at the far end, is backed up to 0-30.

A double fault rears its ugly head to leave him 0-40 and three break points adrift.

For a while it seems that Murray's heart is beating to the Great Escape theme tune. His hitting is rock solid, Djokovic takes his foot off the gas a tad and before you know it the Scot has hauled himself to deuce.

It is only a temporary bit of sanctuary though. Murray has to see off a fourth and fifth break point - Djokovic blocking a backhand volley long on the latter.

Murray has Djokovic struggling at deuce, but plants his regulation smash into the net to set up a sixth. An awkward twitchy tug of backhand into the net follows and that might, very well, be that.

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keith-downie: cant say enough about the fitness of Andy and Novak #incredible

Debbie Macrae: Always in awe of tennis players but this match is relentless come on Andy

A zinger of a backhand down the line buys Andy Murray passage to deuce. That is the least he will have wanted having led 15-30.

The Scot is ushered out of the game by a moment of magic from Novak Djokovic though.

Djokovic reached around the corner to play an astonishing angle as he chased back to reach Murray's prodded response to his drop-shot, bringing the crowd to their feet.

Djokovic breaks

Can Andy Murray finally get the Novak Djokovic monkey off his back after six successive defeats to the Serb?

Murray is going to have to beat him for the first time after losing the opening set if so.

And from a break down in the decider for good measure.

Djokovic fetches three successive Murray smashes from the back of the court to bring up advantage and break point, but is then blasted out of the next rally with a pair of dynamite backhands.

That was gutsy hitting from Murray. But he can't repeat the trick on a second break point, straying into the net.

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An interesting defence from Novak Djokovic. He argues that the umpire could not have understood what he said when he bellowed towards his box at the conclusion of the set.

The umpire claims that the way Djokovic shouted - at about 100 decibels, bristling with anger and about a foot from the face of a ballboy - was enough to merit the warning.

Murray wins second set

What a point.

What a game.

What a final set in store.

Andy Murray with a superb shoulder-high swat half-volley lands right on the line for 0-40. Three break and set points. And Murray takes the first with another fine winner, hitting a purple patch right when he needs to.

Djokovic meanwhile gets a talking-to from the umpire for his angry response to losing the set.

Novak Djokovic throws so much into a forehand at 30-15 down that he is about three foot off the floor as he hits it and loses grip on his racquet as he returns to earth.

The ball ends up in the net as well. 40-15.

Hang on. A pair of the patrons behind Murray's serving arm have decided now is the perfect time to beat the rush for hotdogs.

Once the ball gets into play, Djokovic rolls Murray over with a lovely one-two punch, drawing him in with a tickled drop-shot and then hammering away a winner into the open court.

And now Murray gets a warning for taking too much time over his serve. The pressure needle is creeping north...but Murray gets the job done, luring his man long.

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Andy Murray's turn to get irritable as he builds a couple of decent points, but buries volleys into the net.

Forty-love to Novak Djokovic, but a slammed backhand return winner and a double fault give Murray a sniff.

A sniff is all he gets through. This set could be heading the same way as the first - we are bound for tie-break territory.

This is getting catty.

Novak Djokovic's hackles are raised after the crowd give him a mocking "ooh" for his furious reaction to missing an overhead on the opening point. Djokovic responds with something less than complimentary in Serbian.

Andy Murray trundles to 40-0 with Djokovic apparently still sulking, before the Australian Open champion takes out his frustrations on a second serve, walloping a clean winner.

Two can play that game though. Murray closes out the game with a ram-jamming serve out wide the Djokovic can only wave on through.

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Hashim: My friend is at the stadium and he tells me it is scorching hot out there. I think it's beginning to affect the level of play.

Fissuh H Kelelom: Come on Andy. Phisically Andy looks stronger but mentality Novak is unbeatable.

Aidan Williams: Decent set so far from Murray. getting better and better. Becoming cautiously optimistic.

Novak Djokovic is grinding like a barista tanked up on a triple shot of espresso.

The Serb hangs on with percentage tennis and sinew-straining defence, before taking the final point with a magnificent forehand winner down the line.

More stubborn than grass stains in tennis whites that fella.

Andy Murray has recovered well from the loss of the opening set.

He rattles through another service game, safe and secure, and has looked the better player in the early stages of this set.

We said the same in the first though. Djokovic is a man who gains an extra yard of pace and 10mph of power when it matters most.

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The chink in Novak Djokovic's armoury is an overhead that has never been as reliable as the rest of his arsenal.

A pair of muffed smashes, one on the bounce from the back of the court, give Andy Murray 0-30, before a double fault brings up 30-40 and a break point.

Next rally and Murray, on the run, has a gap down the down the line to aim for. He opts instead for a wrong-footer across court. It drifts long via the top of the net cord though and the Scot is left pointing at where he should have hit it.

Chance gone.

Is there anything as frightening to the British sports fan as the Kiss Cam by the way? Rest easy.

It is not coming to Wimbledon anytime soon judging by the reaction of Philip Brook, All England chairman, and his wife when on the big screen during the changeover. Mr Brook diving out of shot, while Mrs Brook smiled obliviously.

Now then.

A tentative overhead from Andy Murray is gobbled up by Novak Djokovic, swiping across court for 15-40 and two break points. The first is clawed back off the table by Murray and the second is recovered with a sublime top-spinning lob after Djokovic has been drawn in by a heavy net cord.

Deuce. Djokovic crashes away another winner and demands more volume from the crowd in appreciation. Again Murray repels the Serb from a fourth break point.

Djokovic plants wide on a fifth break point and Murray decides that enough is enough. Brutal service power whisks the rug from under Djokovic.

A big hold for Murray.

Can you imagine Andy Murray doing something really frustrating? Like putting together flat-pack furniture or scraping ice off the back of the freezer?

His neighbours for a mile around would be able to hear every angry word.

Anyway. Andy Murray guides away a backhand winner on return to apply a bit of pressure for 40-30, but Novak Djokovic uncorks a rocket ace to keep the second serve ticking along on serve.

Andy Murray could do with some of those solar eclipse specs. The solar rays are still firing straight down his retinas as he tries to serve from the sunny end of the court.

The Scot works up 40-0 as Novak Djokovic makes an iffy start, but his next serve gets the full treatment, whipped crosscourt for a clean winner.

That is the sort of aggression that Djokovic needed to make an early and morale-denting inroad into the Murray serve. But Djokovic doesn't look like he has got his mind fully on the job post-changeover and Murray wriggles off the hook.

Novak Djokovic wanders down the tunnel, with a bag over his shoulder and an ATP official in tow. Andy Murray follows as both players search for an air-conditioned oasis away from the on-court heat.

Murray began the match as if he believed that he not only could, but would, beat Djokovic.

Will that faith still be there where he appears for the second?

First set Djokovic

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Djokovic with first use of the shady end of the court and he breaks Murray's first service point as the Scot presses long. And Murray's second go at teeing off also comes to grief as he pumps over the baseline. Three-love Djokovic as the balls swap ends, but the players stay where they started.

Four-love as Djokovic wins on serve, but a double fault and then a rasping Murray winner gives the Scot hope as they change over at 4-2 Djokovic with the mini-break.

Andy Murray can't quite close the gap. A forehand swatted into the net on his serve gives Novak Djokovic 6-3 and three set points. And one was all he needed. Djokovic lures his foe long to wrap up the opener.

Andy Murray does enough, just.

An ominous opening point as Murray, battling against the sun, reins his first serve in to 100mph and leaves it short.

Novak Djokovic attacks to back Murray into a corner at 0-30 on the next. Lovely disguise from Murray though as he strangles his follow-through to dink a winning dropshot for 15-30.

A titanic point follows, nip and tuck, cat and mouse, neither player wanting to push the limits. Murray is the first to summon up the courage, thumping a backhand cross-court and getting his reward with a smear of the line.

Murray battles on to 40-30, but a heavy netcord in Djokovic's favour pegs him back to deuce.

Murray though keeps the faith, keeps hitting out and we are into a tie-break.

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Telegraph correspondent Simon Briggs: Novak breaks the pattern: holds from the far end to go 6-5 ahead. Murray to serve for tie-break; has never beaten ND after dropping 1st set.

Andy Murray on return, but at the advantageously shady end of the court.

With the first nine games won from that end, is the difference so pronounced that he has to break here?

If so, he has failed. He let Djokovic into a couple of points as well, plopping the ball into mid-court and allowing the Serb a free hit.

Andy Murray could do with a new bit of headwear as well apparently. The Scot fiddles with his cap after losing the first point with a poor netted volley.

But the racquet is still popping. An absolute bobby-dazzler of a serve - searing down the middle - put him 40-15 up and Djokovic drifts long on the next.

Murray duly swaps into a fresh cap at the changeover, deciding to leave the fedora for later.

Novak Djokovic whistles through a game from the shady end of the court to love.

Maybe Andy Murray could borrow coach Amelie Mauresmo's mirror shades to protect him from the glare. And bring a bit of a style edge to court.

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Terry Peters: Murray always starts well against Novak, but I never feel he can dominate & see it through. Even if he wins, it's usually a slog!

Josh Hardy: 7 games, 7 won from the end not facing the sun!

Aidan Williams: The strategy is working from Murray, but he needs a bit more composure post break.

Djokovic breaks

The server's end of the court - facing the sun - is clearly playing a lot differently to the opposite.

Andy Murray cuffs a couple of forehands into the net as he slides to 0-40 and struggles to pick up the flight.

He nibbles one point back with a whoppping great slap of a forehand, but strays long on the next point.

Just like earlier in the set, Murray's break goes unconsolidated.

Murray breaks

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Novak Djokovic can't keep his ball toss out of that pesky Miami sun and he then pretty much flushes his serve down the drain in a wretched game.

Andy Murray takes it to love, without the need to apply the pressure he brought to bear in previous games.

Djokovic is chuntering to his camp. Murray will have to see if he can serve into that sun any better in the next game.

This is starting to simmer.

Andy Murray scrapes a superb backhand winner off his bootlaces for 15-0, a tremendous fetch and swat volley for 30-0 and a sublime backhand block down the line for 40-0.

The television bods in charge of putting together the slow-motion replays are being put through their paces with that little gem collection.

He completes his hold to love and pumps his fist to a crowd, who for much of the year, are his local community.

Novak Djokovic's defences frustrate Andy Murray as the Scot cranks the power a little too high at 15-30 up, framing a forehand high into the cheap seats as he reaches for a little too much power and spin.

That was the rally the Scot could have done with. Djokovic, who just keeps churning out the quality like a battery bunny, makes his way to the stools ahead.

Djokovic breaks

It is as if Andy Murray is using this match as a thought experiment: what if I played Novak Djokovic at full throttle on every point?

The Scot is attacking everything, whittling his margins down to millimetres and coming into the net at the slightest invitation.

Despite losing the break, it is a gameplan that looks good. Djokovic has not been given any platform to attack and only recovers the break thanks to a couple of loose Murray volleys that nine time out of ten would be winners.

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"Umbrella and ice towel" Andy Murray barks to the umpire as he heads to his stool for the changeover.

Novak Djokovic meanwhile is chewing the collective ear of those in his box.

The body language and the scoreboard tell the same story - Murray has made the better start.

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ATP analyst Craig O'Shannessy: Murray in a lot of ways copying the improved Federer game plan. Attack. Step in. Take chances at the net. Bigger groundies.

Murray breaks

It is not the biggest beast in the tennis jungle, but Andy Murray clearly wants Novak Djokovic's serve stuffed, mounted and up on his wall today.

The Scot goes hunting on return, hitting a clean winner before getting the upper hand in the next rally on his way to 30-30. The Murray fist is pumping and he racks up a break point - 30-40 - with more power and precision.

Djokovic, stretched all out of shape, can only moon-ball from the baseline. Murray keeps his eye on it and cracks away the overhead.

First blood.

Andy Murray made relatively short work of Tomas Berdych in the semi-final, winning 6-4 6-4 and that was a muscular start to his service work.

A hold to love with lots of pep in the serve and intent behind every groundstroke.

An opening point of this pair's usual 24-carat quality as they trade backhands before Djokovic summons up a pin-point winner.

There are some pretty howling errors from both men during the rest of it though.

Murray fails to pin his man when Djokovic is vulnerable at the net and then Djokovic casually plants an overhead smash into the net to open the door at 30-15 open.

Murray earns a break point with a fizzing deep forehand, but Djokovic sees it off with pressure at the net.

A lovely stun volley from the Serb as he sucks all the venom out of an attempted pass from Murray. Game point. And Murray into the net on the next.

No gentle loosener that. This match looks like it has legs.

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Daily Mail correspondent Mike Dickson: Key for Murray v Djoko: high 1st serve % + be awake for 1st 4 games, unlike Indian Wells. In Muz's favour - played a lot in day heat here.

Times correspondent Barry Flatman: Searching for factors that might help Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic today. It's hot (85F), 65% humidity & the breeze is supposed to pick up.

Murray's ex-coach Brad Gilbert: 2 things Muzard has to do today to have chance to beat Djoker be very bold on 2nd serve like Nole.and be very aggressive with backhand.

Amelie Mauresmo is in situ in Andy Murray's box, watching as her man gets in a couple of late practice serves, using up every second of the warm-up.

Novak Djokovic is already on his stool, sipping isotonic and plotting his way to victory.

Reuters

The players are on the court and have been given their two-minute warning by the umpire. Novak Djokovic won the toss and opted to serve I believe.

It is the sort of day in Miami that Will Smith would rap about - a sparkling blue sky with a couple of wisps of light cloud just for contrast.

"I think in a lot of cases it's just better to let the woman have it how she would like," Murray said this week of his forthcoming nuptials, by the way.

"In terms of flowers and colour schemes and those sorts of things, I couldn't really care less about that, to be honest.

"The one thing that I really wanted to do was be involved with the food."

Never letting anything get in the way of his nutrition, what a professional.

Reuters

Andy Murray has not beaten Novak Djokovic since wiping the Centre Court grass with him in the 2013 Wimbledon final.

Twice already Novak Djokovic have beaten him this season, including that Australian Open final in which Murray was annoyed by what he thought was the Serb playing possum and making more of an injury than necessary.

They have known each other since they were boys, have played doubles together in the past, but it feels like the rivalry has got a bit more edge recently.

PA

Endless debate over ribbons. Heated arguments about cushion covers. The delicate politics of seating plans.

With his wedding to Kim Sears less than a week away, Andy Murray had extra motivation to make it all the way to today's final, maximising his stay in Miami.

Now he is here, he has the chance to stop a rotten six-match-long losing streak against Novak Djokovic.