Andy Murray clinches Shanghai Open title, closes in on Djokovic for the top rank

10/16/2016

Andy Murray eased to a 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 victory over Roberto Bautista on Sunday, as he won the Shanghai Masters without dropping a set cutting down the gap on World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Murray has now won 20 straight sets across 10 matches, winning two consecutive titles in China.

Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray on Sunday won seven points in a row in the first-settie-breaker, and broke Bautista three times to lift his third Shanghai Open title. Murray's first serve of the match was a thumping ace and he took control of the first set at 3-3 when Bautista lost the first break point of the match.

Serving at 5-4, the Brit lost three set points and got in a tangle on a drop shot to hand Bautista his first break point, which the Spaniard converted with a strong forehand. Murray then slammed three consecutive aces for 6-6 as he dominated the tie-break, winning seven points in a row to clinch the first set.

Bautista's back-to-back errors then put Murray a break up at the start of set two, but the Olympic gold medallist miscued his forehand giving it straight back. But Bautista's two double faults presented Murray with two break points, making the victory a formality for the 29-year old who buried his first championship point.

With this win, Murray also closed down the gap on Djokovic to 915 points as he zeroes in on the World No.1 rank in ATP men's singles rankings.