By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 6, 2016
A streaking Andy Murray downsized John Isner, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, to capture his first Paris Masters crown and stretch his winning streak to 19 matches.
Photo credit: Corinne Dubreuil/FFT
A day after rising to the world No. 1 ranking, Andy Murray hit another major growth spurt.
Bouncing on his toes energetically and barking at himself persistently, Murray continued his mastery of John Isner, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, to capture his first career Paris Masters championship.
More: Murray Displaces Djokovic As New World No. 1
The red-hot Scot mastered Isner for the eighth time in as many meetings, extended his winning streak to 19 matches and collected his ATP-best eighth title of the season.
It was a resourceful performance from Murray, who withstood 18 aces from the ATP ace leader and saved all six break points he faced, including four break points in a tense eighth game of the second set.
The 29-year-old Murray earned his third Masters title of the season following wins in Rome and Shanghai and 14th career Masters crown of his career. Murray needs three Masters titles to tie 1999 Paris champion Andre Agassi for fourth place on the all-time Masters championship list behind Novak Djokovic (30), Rafael Nadal (28) and Roger Federer (124).
Accuracy on the run, fitness and a fired-up disposition were all assets for Murray, who received a walkover into the final when scheduled semifinal opponent Milos Raonic withdrew with a right quadriceps muscle tear.
Contesting his third Master final, Isner outplayed his nemesis for much of the second set, but couldn't crack Murray's serve and looked increasingly depleted by the latter stages of the final set.
Working with new coach David Macpherson, who had coached the Bryan Brothers for the past 11 years, Isner has tried to play more proactive return games and impose his net game. He often put himself in a winning position at net, including in the final game, but botched some makeable volleys. Isner won 29 of 50 net trips, while Murray was an efficient 14 of 16 at net.
The big man with the massive serve had managed meager pressure on Murray's serve in past encounters, including a straight-sets loss in Vienna last week in which Murray thrashed the American so thoroughly he went out for more practice afterward.
Still, Isner reached 30-all in the fifth game and was in prime position for break point, but bungled an easy forehand volley into net. Murray worked through the first deuce game of the match for 3-2.
Holding a 30-love lead in the next game, Isner disintegrated in errors. Pushing a backhand volley wide, Isner compounded that error with his first double fault to face break point. Cornering the former all-American on his weaker backhand wing, Murray drew an errant backhand to break for 4-2.
Though Murray has played some of his most dynamic tennis during this winning streak, his second serve can still show skittish signs. He opened the fifth game with a double fault and when Isner lacerated an inside-out forehand winner he had double break point.
Repelling Isner's stab volley with a brilliant improvised backhand lob to save the first break point, Murray bolted a backhand down the line and attacked to save the second, eventually working through a demanding hold for 5-2.
Serving for the set, Murray quieted more turbulence with a couple of stinging serves. An ace down the middle caught a sliver of the center stripe for set point. Murray banged a serve winner wide closing the 35-minute first set despite the fact the ATP ace leader served 80 percent.
Holding serve comfortably throughout the second set, Isner put the screws to Murray's serve in the eighth game. Cracking a forehand pass, Isner earned triple break point, but Murray would not yield.
Racing up to a drop volley, Isner had an entire expanse of open court but pushed a backhand wide. A smash and second serve ace enabled Murray to erase two more break points. On the fourth break point, Isner was dragged into a running rally and ballooned a forehand beyond the baseline.
A scrappy Murray denied all four break points leaving Isner to cope with the trauma of going one for 40 in break point chances in his eight career clashes with the Wimbledon champion.
Still, Isner stayed the course.
In the tie break, Isner played more assertive tennis, hitting an ace and a pair of solid volleys for 3-2. Then Murray blinked, clanking his third double fault to hand the big man the mini break and a 4-2 lead. Isner's 13th ace gave him triple set point and he closed the set whipping an inside-out forehand winner.
After winning only one second-serve point in the opening set, Isner lost just one point on second serve in the second set. For the first time since 2009, the Paris final went the distance.
Bouncing behind the baseline on his toes the second seed earned the first break point of the decider only to see Isner deny it with a massive wide serve and forehand winner, holding for 1-all.
Isner, who took treatment for an apparent left knee strain after the third game, erased a break point with an ace in the fourth game. Murray thumped a pair of aces rolling through a routine hold for 4-3.
In the 10th game, Isner again tested Murray's rock-solid backhand and paid the price as Murray slashed a backhand pass for championship point. Isner blocked a backhand volley into net ending the two hour, 17-minute final.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist departs Paris with a 405 point lead over Djokovic for the top spot. Ultimately, the year-end world No. 1 ranking will be decided in Murray's adopted hometown of London where Djokovic is four-time defending ATP World Tour Finals champion.