Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray: 2014 ATP World Tour Finals Exhibition Recap

Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 8-5 in a swiftly arranged exhibition match on the final day of the ATP World Tour Finals. BBC Sport shared the result:

The world No. 1 was supposed to be playing Roger Federer in a hotly anticipated final, but the Swiss maestro was forced to withdraw from the event with a back injury. Federer revealed the reasons for his withdrawal to the supporters in attendance, insisting he did everything he could to play, per BBC Sport:

"

I'm sorry I'm not fit to play. I hope you understand. I wanted to come out personally and explain.

I did everything I could. I took pain-killers, had rest until the very end, but I just cannot compete at this level with Novak.

At my age it would've been a risk.

"

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Djokovic was subsequently named as the tournament champion and received his trophy ahead of the exhibition match. He went on to pay tribute to the 17-time Grand Slam champion before tackling Murray in a first-to-eight match, per Daniel Harris of The Guardian.    

"I’m sure that if he could’ve come out and play, he would’ve," Djokovic said. "I wish him all the best for his recovery, he has an important week ahead of him with the Davis Cup final."

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The supporters in attendance will have naturally been wholly disappointed by Federer’s withdrawal, but the brisk announcement that Murray—the British No. 1 and home crowd favourite—would be playing Djokovic instead was an fine consolation prize. Jonathan Overend of 5 Live Sport thinks that the Scot deserves great credit for filling in:

"

Murray got thrashed.. season over.. At home.. about to watch Strictly.. drives to O2 to help appease fans. #decent well done Djokovic too

— Jonathan Overend (@jsoverend) November 16, 2014"

With no pressure on either player, we were treated to some excellent tennis. Both players traded some fascinating blows in the early stages of the contest, although shouts from the crowd of “Come on Roger!” were perhaps the main source of flippant entertainment in the opening game. Nonetheless, both players were serving well, and the clash remained on serve for the first five games.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Djokovic has been a class above his opponents this week, though, and even with the ATP World Tour title secured, there were signs he had too much for Murray. Those concerns for British fans materialised in earnest in the sixth game of the match, as an unforced error from the Scot gave the champion a break of serve and a 4-2 lead.

ESPN’s Carl Bialik was doing his best to remain professional despite the match meaning relatively little:

The Serb moved into a 5-2 lead, and with momentum behind him it looked as though this match could be over quickly. But Murray dug in, and after holding serve in the eighth game, he conjured up a break point of his own in the ninth. It was subsequently converted after Djokovic misjudged a backhand. That pushed the score on to 5-4 in favour of the world No. 1. 

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Game on? Not quite, as the Scot’s miserable week continued. He was unable to consolidate his break of serve and Djokovic broke him again to move 6-4 ahead. From that point on, this extended set looked to be over, and with the title secured, the Serb was beginning to enjoy himself, as noted here by Sky Sports Tennis:

With both players holding serve for the remainder of the match, it was Djokovic who eventually emerged as an 8-5 victor. Afterwards, Murray explained his shock at being asked to fill in, per ByTheMin Tennis: 

"

Andy "I was playing Mario Kart on my sofa when I got the call. I was better at that than my tennis! I clearly pushed Roger hard on Thursday"

— ByTheMin Tennis (@ByTheMinTennis) November 16, 2014"

There’s little we can take from a hastily arranged game, but it was another small indication of just how far ahead the Serb is of some of the world’s top players at the moment, and how much work Murray has to do to re-establish himself amongst the tennis elite in 2015.

Murray’s season isn’t quite over yet, though. He has also sportingly agreed to partner tennis legend John McEnroe for an exhibition doubles match against former British No. 1 Tim Henman and 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.