DOHA – Andy Murray and champion Novak Djokovic will go toe-to-toe in the Qatar Open tennis final after the world’s top two players laid down their markers for the 2017 season.
World number one Murray swept aside Czech third seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 6-4 to record his 28th consecutive victory and will be targeting a sixth title in succession on Saturday.
Djokovic was deposed as world number one by Murray in November, beaten by the Scot in their last showdown, the title match of the 2016 season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.
He will be hoping to avoid the hiccups he faced against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in Friday’s semi-final.
The Serb saved five match points to stay alive before eventually subduing Verdasco 4-6 7-6(7) 6-3. (Reuters)
