Murray loses Shanghai Masters to Djokovic

The Serbian second seed came out on top in a gripping second-set tiebreak lasting more than 20 minutes to level the match.

Djokovic broke twice in the decider to win a marathon match lasting three hours and 21 minutes 5-7, 7-6 (13/11), 6-3..

A gruelling first set contained seven breaks of serve as the players went toe-to-toe in a breathtaking display of power hitting, with neither able to grab the initiative.

But third seed Murray made what proved to be the crucial breakthrough in the 11th game, recovering from 0-40 to break for a 6-5 lead as an infuriated Djokovic destroyed his racquet, tossing it away in disgust.

It looked as though the defending champion Murray was heading for a straight sets win, when he broke in the seventh game to lead 4-3 after Djokovic put a volley into the net.

Soon Murray was serving for the match at 5-4 and 30-0. But the Serb refused to be beaten, saving a match point to pull level at 5-5 and the set went into that dramatic tiebreak, ending in victory for Djokovic. Now it was Murray’s turn to smash his racket in frustration.

Djokovic denied the Scot four more times in the shoot-out, sealing the set with a drive volley that was followed by a trademark fist-pumping celebration.

Murray, who lost this year’s Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, had never been beaten at the Shanghai Masters before today, winning the 2010 and 2011 tournaments.

He beat Djokovic in five sets in last month’s US Open final to secure Britain’s first men’s grand slam singles title since the 1930s, just weeks after his Olympic triumph in front of home fans in London.

Djokovic is now hot on the heels of Federer as he tries to secure the year-end No.1 ranking for the second year in a row.