Andy Murray claims Miami Masters title

ANDY Murray secured the biggest win of his career with a third Masters title in Miami.

CLASSY WIN: Andy Murray added the Miami title to his resume of Masters wins in Cincinnati and Madrid last year (Getty Images)

The British number one produced a brilliant performance to beat world number three Novak Djokovic.

He cantered to the first set with ease but found himself 5-2 down in the second as the Serbian belatedly found his rhythm.

One year ago Djokovic was questioning Murray's mental strength - but not anymore.

Murray won the next five games on the spin - even saving a couple of set points - leaving Djokovic reeling as he secured a 6-2, 7-5 victory - his third title of the year - and a cheque for $605,500, his biggest ever winning pay day.

And he is now just 170 ranking points behind Djokovic and the world number three position - a height a British player hasn't scaled since 1973.

And as he heads to Monte Carlo for the start of the clay court season, his least favoured surface, he has already won as many matches in 2009 as he had by the second round of last year's Wimbledon.

The priority now is to win a first Grand Slam - and go one better than his defeat to Roger Federer in last year's US Open final.

 

"I'm training very hard to try and do that but there are so many great players just now - Novak, Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer] - and they've been dominating the slams for the last few years," he said.

"It would be nice to get in there and take one."

 

VICTOR'S SPOILS: Andy Murray's victory in Miami earned him $605,000 and valuable ATP Tour ranking points (Getty Images)

And it appears a matter of when, rather than if, Murray usurps Djokovic in the ATP Tour world rankings.

The Serbian did little to answer critics who claims his fitness is questionable. Much like the defence of his Australian Open title, which ended when he withdrew citing heat exhaustion, he again struggled in the energy-sapping conditions.

He seemed listless in a quick first set in which he committed 16 unforced errors to just four for Murray.

Djokovic called the trainer to the court early in the second set and despite rallying briefly, he wilted spectacularly in the 91-degree heat.

And the stats told their own picture. 

Murray won 26 of 34 points on his first serve and broke Djokovic five times.

He dominated the net, winning won ten of 11 net rushes, while Djokovic won just 17 of 33. Djokovic had 43 errors to Murray's 19, with 15 coming in a sloppy second set.

And as the Serbian's energy seemed to drain away, he lost ten of the last 11 points, a flurry of half-hearted half-volleys handing Murray a straight sets win.

"Andy has been playing terrific tennis for the last year and really deserved to win this," admitted Djokovic.

"This is a special tournament - it's considered the unofficial fifth Grand Slam and it's a hard result to take."

Meanwhile, Murray later paid tribute to fitness trainer Jez Green - whose regime has revolutionised the Scot's physique and mental approach.