Andy Murray beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday in the Rogers Cup for his fourth tournament victory of the year and third title in the Canadian event.
The second-seeded Murray also won the tournament in 2009 and 2010. The Scot ended an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic since the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Murray dedicated the victory to his coach, Amelie Mauresmo, a former player who gave birth to a boy on Saturday.
“I don’t know much detail,” said Murray, whose wife, Kim, is due to give birth to their first child in February. “I haven’t spoken to her. I’d imagine she’s quite tired. Probably me and my tennis are the last thing on her mind just now, which is totally understandable.”
Djokovic, the champion in 2007, 2011 and 2012, lost for only the fourth time in 56 matches this year. The Serb failed in his bid to tie the ATP Tour record for consecutive Masters 1000 event titles at five.
Djokovic was playing his ninth straight final, a run that included championship victories over Murray this year in the Australian Open and Key Biscayne, Florida.
Djokovic said pain in his right elbow limited his ability to serve.
“Not taking anything away from him, from his victory,” Djokovic said. “He deserved it. He stepped in, played some great shots. Most of all the moments when he needed to, he served very, very well. That one game when I had I think four, five opportunities to break back, he just came up with big serves, so I couldn’t do much. But it was a great week all in all for me.”
In hot, muggy conditions at Uniprix Stadium, Murray served at 3-1 in the third, already up a break.. A ferocious baseline battle went to deuce 10 times and Murray fought off six break points to take the game.
Djokovic had two more break points in the final game, but Murray pounded two service winners and eventually won when Djokovic hit a groundstroke long after a brief rally.
Murray will move to No. 2, ahead of Roger Federer, in the new world ranking on Monday.
In the doubles final, American twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan beat Daniel Nestor of Canada and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 4-6, 6-3 10-6.
Bencic beats Halep for title
Swiss teen Belinda Bencic won the Rogers Cup, following her upset of Serena Williams with a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 3-0 victory over an ailing Simona Halep.
The 18-year-old Bencic won her second WTA Tour title after breaking through this summer on grass in England at Eastbourne. She’s ranked 20th.
“It’s like I cannot believe it, and it’s amazing,” Bencic said. “I have no words for this, and definitely talk about a tough draw.”
Eugenie Bouchard was the first to fall. Caroline Wozniacki was next, followed by Sabine lisicki, Ana Ivanovic, the top-ranked Williams — who lost for just the second time all year — and finally Halep.
Halep was hampered by a left leg injury, cramps and heat exhaustion and stopped in the third set.
“I was thinking that I need a miracle to finish the match,” Halep said. “I knew that I had no power, so I tried just to finish the match, but at 3-0 I said there is no sense to continue and I stopped.”
In the doubles final, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and lucie Safarova beat Caroline Garcia and Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 6-2.