Dubai Championships 2012 Results Day 5: Novak Djokovic Upset In Semis By Andy Murray

Novak Djokovic, the top seed at the Dubai Championship and top-ranked player in the world, won’t be able to match his 43-win steak from 2011 as he lost in the semifinals to No. 4-seed Andy Murray.

Murray, a Scot who has yet to win a Grand Slam and had lost the last seven of 11 meetings between the two 24-year-old tennis stars, ended Djokovic’ streak at 10.

With the upset over Djokovic, Murray may be on his way to reaching his year-end goal to be the world’s No. 1.

From SBNation:

With three Grand Slams left in the year as well as a full-tournament schedule, it’s not an impossible goal for Murray, despite any injuries.

With the addition of new coach, legendary tennis player Ivan Lendl, that goal may come sooner than later.

First, Murray has to knock the No.1 before he can become the No. 1. Seeing how that No. 1 is Novak Djokovic, the same No. 1 since last July, it will take giving Djokovic something he isn’t that used to in the past year - a loss.

In just one hour and 22 minutes and winning 71 percent of his first serves, that’s exactly what Murray did. He stopped Djokovic, who was in search of his fourth straight title in Dubai.

Murray won 94 percent of the points off his first serve in the first set alone and finished with a match total of 85 percent. Djokovic, who is said to have looked rusty, admitted he committed too many unforced errors.

Besides his serve, Murray contributed his success on court Friday to their five-hour match in Melbourne.

From the AP:

“I think it’s big for me that after Australia this year I’ve come back and had a win like tonight,” Murray said. “Hopefully that will set me up well for the year. Confidence in tennis and almost any individual sport is so important. A win like tonight will do that no harm.”

Murray will face the winner of the semifinal matchup between No. 2 seed Roger Federer and No. 8 seed Juan Martin Del Potro