Former world number one, Novak Djokovic rolled back the years and withstood a comeback from Sir Andy Murray on Saturday to defend his Qatar Open title and end the Briton’s winning streak of 28 consecutive ATP Tour matches.
But Murray remains world number one in spite of the 3-6 7-5 4-6 defeat by the Serbian world number two.
The Scot saved three match points to come from a set and a break down to win the second set and level the match.
But Djokovic broke in game seven of the decider to win in two hours 54 minutes.
Both players now head to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam, which starts on Jan. 16.
“It’s a tough one to lose,’’ said the 29-year-old Murray.
“It was high level tennis. Some of the points were physically tough. But it’s a great way to start the new year and I look forward to the next few weeks.’’
This was the 36th meeting between the pair and Murray had won the last time they met at the ATP Tour Finals in November, a victory that kept him at world number one.
The Scot has never beaten the Serb after losing the first set and he was soon trailing as Djokovic broke in the eighth game following a string of unforced errors from Murray.
Djokovic broke again in the second set and served for the match at 5-3 but Murray fought back and won four straight games to level.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion looked to be tiring in the third and was 0-30 on his own serve at 2-3 down but he fought back to hold.
He then broke Murray for the third time in the match as he won his second title in Doha.
“To win here, against the biggest rival, is a dream start,’’ said Djokovic, who was penalised a point in the second set for smashing his racket.
Djokovic is the defending champion in Melbourne, having won his sixth Australian Open title last year as he condemned Murray to a fifth defeat in the final of the tournament.