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Murray and Djokovic set up dream Qatar final

Sport360 staff 23:56 06/01/2017

Djokovic only got through after saving five match points against world number 42 Fernando Verdasco, to win a thrilling match 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.

Murray swept aside Tomas Berdych in far more straightforward fashion 6-3, 6-3 to secure a 28th consecutive victory, a record which stretches back to September last year.

The mouthwatering final between the world number one, Murray, and his nearest rival takes place on Saturday and will be a key litmus test ahead of the season’s first Grand Slam in Australia which starts on January 16.

Djokovic said he was lucky to be in his second successive Doha final after being on the brink of a straight sets defeat as he trailed in the second set tie-break.

But through a combination of typical Djokovic grit and Verdasco errors he saved four match points at 6-2 down in the tiebreak and another when 7-6 behind.

It is the third time in his career he has saved five match points.

“It’s definitely one of the most exciting matches I have played,” Djokovic said after coming back from five match points down for just the third time in his career.

“I haven’t saved five match points many times. He (Verdasco) should have finished it off.”

Djokovic’s progress prior to the semi-finals had been serene and Friday’s match was the first time the Serb had even dropped a set in Doha in almost two years.

Despite losing his opening service game, the world number two broke back in the eighth game.

But he was then immediately broken back by Verdasco, who not only served out for the set but then broke Djokovic’s opening service game in the second.

Only after closing the tense second set tie-breaker, did Djokovic’s victory seem likely.

Murray, who had struggled with the windy conditions and opponents in previous rounds, won far more easily.

He broke Berdych early in each set and won in almost an hour’s less playing time than the Serb.

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