MASON, Ohio — Novak Djokovic’s remarkable winning streak ended with a grimace, stopped by a sore shoulder that forced him to retire in the second set on Sunday and gave Andy Murray the championship of the Western & Southern Open.
The world’s top-ranked player had won 16 consecutive matches since his only loss of the season, in the semifinals against Roger Federer on June 3 at Roland Garros. The winning streak has taken a toll.
He was completely off his game against the fourth-seeded Murray, won the first set 6-4 and was ahead 3-0 in the second when Djokovic decided just before the rain came that he couldn’t continue. Djokovic got his shoulder treated after he lost the first set, grimacing at one point.
Djokovic is 57-2 on the season after suffering his first loss on hard courts.
It was Murray’s second title this season. He also won at the Queen’s Club. Murray lost his other final match to Djokovic at the Australian Open.
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