Murray: Return cost me

Andy Murray
2 April 2012

Andy Murray blamed a misfiring return of serve after he suffered final heartbreak at the hands of Novak Djokovic, losing in straight sets at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Sunday.

The world number one bullied Murray's serve throughout to clinch his first title since the Australian Open 6-1 7-6 (7/4).

"I didn't return well today, which is normally one of the best parts of my game. That was the difference, in my opinion," said Murray on www.atptour.com.

"[I was] not getting into enough of his service games because I missed too many returns.

"If I was able to get into more longer rallies on his service games, then maybe it would have been a different result in the second set."

Djokovic beat Murray in a marathon five-set semi-final at Melbourne Park but the Scot won their most recent meeting in Dubai last month to give him hope.

And the Serbian felt his latest victory was more down to his own impressive serving statistics than any failings on Murray's part.

"When he feels the chance, he always grabs it," Djokovic said. "Luckily for me, I came out with some good serving when I needed to.

"I think I served over 70 per cent of first serves in, which was really important today to get a couple of free points on that serve and set up a good second shot. I [did] that when I needed to."

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