DHAKA: Andy Murray has ended his drought against the world No1 Novak Djokovic by winning the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The British No1 needed five championship points and three hours to see off the Serbian 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in a tense final, snapping an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic in the process as he scooped his 35th career title, reports The Guardian.

With the two top seeds renewing their rivalry a drawn-out battle was expected and the players did not disappoint, Murray forcing a total of 19 break points, but the resilient Serb found reserves to hang in there time after time before eventually succumbing.

Djokovic had been aiming to win his fourth Rogers Cup in his ninth final of the year but Murray was in determined mood to claim his own fourth ATP Tour title of 2015.

Both players were keen to lay down a marker before the US Open, which begins later this month, and that was evident during fierce early sparring, but first blood went to Murray.

The Scot broke Djokovic at only the second attempt but it was not easy as Djokovic survived four break points before going down on the fifth for Murray to take a 3-1 lead. That would become a theme.

Murray faced his first break point at 4-2 and an overhit forehand put Djokovic immediately back into the match, but he had more joy on the top seed’s serve soon afterwards to clinch the first set 6-4.

Like a wounded animal Djokovic was a man on a mission at the start of the second set, successfully attacking Murray’s serve at the first time of asking, but his own service continued to creak and Murray took advantage of a second serve to pull it back to 3-3. The world No1 made sure of a deciding set, however, by breaking back straight away and going on to win the second set 6-4.

The decider was punctuated by a series of games that turned into wars, with neither man prepared to give an inch.

BDST: 1050 HRS, AUG 17, 2015
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