Master in Shanghai: How Andy Murray conquered the Rolex Shanghai Masters
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Since becoming an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in 2009, few players have dominated the Rolex Shanghai Masters like Andy Murray.
Throughout his career, Murray won three singles titles in Shanghai, second only to Novak Djokovic with four.
Shanghai and Canada were Murray’s two most successful ATP Masters events and to this day, the former world No.1 is the only player to reach three consecutive finals (2010-2012).
As we gear up for this year’s event, we look back at Murray’s four finals in China and how he became a master in Shanghai.
2010: Murray thrashes Federer to clinch first title
Only a few days before the 2010 Rolex Shanghai Masters, Murray had pulled out of the China Open quarter-final and naturally there were questions around his condition heading into one of the final ATP Masters events of the season.
However, despite the concerns, the British star rose to the occasion and flew through to the final without dropping a set, including wins over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Monaco in the quarter and semi-finals.
Awaiting him in the final was none other than Roger Federer – who had knocked out Djokovic in the previous round.
Heading into that match, Federer had come out on top of several of their big match clashes – including finals at the US Open and Australian Open – but this time, Murray was determined to turn the tables.
In arguably one of the best performances of his career, Murray dispatched Federer 6-3, 6-2 in what remains the joint shortest Rolex Shanghai Masters final.
The Briton dominated on serve and caused the 20-time Grand Slam champion huge problems on the return all match – winning 76% (16/21) points against the Swiss star’s second serve.
After the match, Federer was full of praise for the British No.1: "He's capable of beating everybody right now," he said. "He's proven it. He's beaten everybody multiple times – Rafa (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic), myself. That's what you've got to do.”
2011: Murray defends his title in Shanghai
Only Murray and Djokovic have successfully defended the ATP Masters 1000 title in Shanghai.
Returning to the event in 2011, Murray was on an incredible run in the back straight of the season – winning the Cincinnati Open Masters title before trophies in Bangkok and Tokyo to start the Asian hard court swing.
With Federer and Djokovic both out of the tournament, Murray and Nadal were the hot favourites for the title, and with the Spaniard bowing out in the third round, the Briton seized his opportunity.
Murray had to come through in three sets against 13th seed and future Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round, before easing past Matthew Ebden and Kei Nishikori to book a final meeting with third seed David Ferrer.
The Briton beat Ferrer 7-5, 6-4 to lift the title once again and rise to world No.3 – overtaking Federer for the first time.
From the start of Cincinnati to the end of Shanghai, Murray won 25 of 26 matches – only losing out to Nadal in the semi-finals of the US Open.
2012: Djokovic ends Murray dominance
By the time the 2012 Rolex Shanghai Masters rolled around, Murray seemed to be entering a new stage in his career.
Just a few months earlier, he had clinched the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games before going on to win his first Grand Slam title at the US Open – beating Djokovic in an epic final.
Despite coming in as the third seed, Murray was viewed by many as the stand out candidate to complete his hat-trick in Shanghai, which was only confirmed when he beat Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals.
In the final however, Djokovic had his eyes set on revenge following his disappointment in Flushing Meadows.
It was Murray who took the opener 7-5, but the Serbian showed his resilience to see off five championship points and eventually clinch the second and third sets 7-6(11), 6-3.
The battle is viewed as one of the greatest in their long-standing rivalry and at the end of the season, it was voted the 2012 ATP Match of the Year.
2016: Murray cements greatest season with Shanghai title
This was the year Murray ruled the world.
The Briton finished the 2016 season with nine titles (including a second Wimbledon trophy, the Olympics and winning the ATP Finals), won 78 matches, went on a 26-match unbeaten run to end the year and became the first British player to reach world No.1 in men’s singles.
Part of that success was Murray’s run to his third and final Rolex Shanghai Masters title during his dominant end to the season.
Looking to reach the final for the first time since 2012, Murray cruised through the opening rounds. He beat Steve Johnson, Lucas Pouille, David Goffin and Gilles Simon without losing a set or so much as breaking a sweat.
Nothing was going to stop Murray in this kind of form and despite a tight opening set in the final against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, the Briton came through 7-6(1), 6-1.
The result moved Murray less than 1000 points behind Djokovic in the race to finish the year as world No.1, which he later managed at the ATP Finals in London.
