Novak Djokovic, world number one, was the winner of the Madrid Masters 1000 tournament, his fifth title of the season, defeating in a tense and hard-fought final to Andy Murray 6-2 3-6 6-3. The Serbian thus confirms his leadership in world tennis and shows his early elimination in Monte Carlo was nothing more than an accident.

With this victory the Serbian raises his number of titles to 64, catching up with Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, only five away from Nadal. Besides the Spanish, precede him Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94), Roger Federer (88) and John McEnroe (77) who lead the ranking of most victories in ATP tournaments. Most ATP titles

He also overtakes Nadal again in Masters 1000 titles, bringing the number of victories in these tournaments to 29, thus undoing the tie produced by the Spanish victory in Monte Carlo just a couple of weeks ago. Most Masters1000 titles

Djokovic holds this season a balance of 33 wins and two losses equivalent to a 94,29% of effectiveness, an even higher percentage which he concluded the year 2015, 93,18%.  He also achieves his third Masters 1000 of the season when only have been played four. The Serbian has won ten of the last thirteen Masters 1000, reaching the final in 12 of them. An unprecedented record in the tennis history. Wins % 2016 Wins % 2015

He also has a balance of 12-0 against top-10, reaching a mark of 43-5 if we include the results of last year. The number one does not lose against a top-10 since Federer defeated him in the round robin of the last ATP finals. Since then he counted 15 consecutive wins facing rivals in that category, breaking his previous personal record of 14 victories obtained from Beijing 2012 to Indian Wells 2013. The Serbian is just one victory away from the best run of Bjorn Borg but he is still far from the Roger Federer’s record of 24 consecutive wins before the top-10, collected between Masters Cup 2003 and Australian Open 2005. Wins streak vs. top-10

Either way, Djokovic is a breaking records machine. There is no week without the smashing of any record. In thetennisbase we have recorded him 25 ATP records, he is second in 22 and third in 29. Still far from the 54 records of Federer, but at this rate these differences dwindle rapidly. Djokovic records

Aside from the records, the Serbian game was again characterized by his extreme effectiveness. He only lost one set in the tournament – the second of the final before Murray – and he lost only three service games. He led the tournament statistics in returning points won with 43,83%, ahead of Nadal who reached 42,12%, he saved the 84,21% of break points faced (16 of 19) and he converted the 44.44% (16 of 36). The only blot to his brilliant performance was the difficulties he suffered to close matches. Raonic came close to tying to five in the second set, Nishikori saved four match balls and he was able to force the tie break in the second set after breaking his service and Murray disposed of seven break points in the last game of the final. Madrid 2016 stats (I)

The Scot, despite not being able to defend his title of 2015, completed a great tournament. After a hesitant debut against Radek Stepanek, he got three convincing victories before Simon, Berdych and Nadal.

His service shone high, saving him on multiple occasions – especially against Nadal and Djokovic – from tough situations. The 35 aces he scored, 21 more than those achieved last year in this same tournament, are a clear example of the British progress in this aspect. His attitude was competitive and focused at all times, away from that gesture and contorted figure he has shown often in the past. Andy has cleared many doubts in Madrid demonstrating he can compete at the highest level on clay. Madrid 2016 stats (II) Madrid 2015 stats

Nadal played again a good tournament, but rain and humidity conditions affected his performance. Against Joao Sousa, at quarter finals, after winning the first set 6-0 was necessary to close the roof of the Caja Magica, the ball become slowly and heavy and the Portuguese benefited from that and he could get in trouble to Rafa. At the semi-final, with Murray, Nadal disposed of 13 break points, 9 in the second set. But the great service of Murray and some own inaccuracies prevented him from converting 11 of them. That together with some mistakes at important moments of the match – was not his day with the smashing nor the drop shots – helped Murray to achieved his second victory over Nadal on clay, both in Madrid, and reduces distances on the head to head which is now 17-7. Nadal-Murray h2h analysis

However, and despite having lost his first match on the European tour on clay, the performances and statistics of Nadal in the tournament – leader in percentage of total returned games won and second in percentage of total returned points won – are positive and allow him to look with optimism the future in Rome and Paris. Madrid 2016 stats (III)

Kei Nishikori achieved again a great result this week, after those obtained in Melbourne, Memphis, Indian Wells, Miami and Barcelona. The Japanese is already fourth in the ATP Race. His balance this season is 26 wins and 8 losses (76.47% sixth of the season), but we must bear in mind that six of them have been against the three above him in the Race, Murray, Nadal and Djokovic that have defeated him once, twice and three times respectively. Nishikori 2016 activity

Similar case is that of Raonic. The Canadian after losing at quarterfinals against Djokovic is fifth in the Race with a balance of 23 wins and 5 losses, two of them were facing Murray and other two against Djokovic. It is clear that, pending that Federer will be reincorporated with continuity to the competition, are Nishikori and Raonic who lead the step immediately below the three tenors. Raonic 2016 activity

Feliciano Lopez, after matching last week the 16 entries of Manuel Orantes in the Godo, has broken this week the record of entries at the Madrid Masters. The Toledan is the only player who has played the 15 editions of the tournament. Masters Madrid book of records

For his part, Tomas Berdych raised to 53 the number of consecutive participations in Masters 1000 tournaments. The Czech has played all the tournaments in this category from Toronto 2010 and he is just 8 behind the record of Verdasco who played all Masters 1000 tournaments since Madrid 2005 to Rome 2012, 61 in total. Entries Masters 1000 streak

Next week Rome Masters 1000 comes with an important novelty. For first time in history, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are in the same half of the draw. If there is no last minute loss, the last big test before Paris promises strong emotions.

World number one Novak Djokovic beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the Madrid Open final on Sunday to capture a record 29th Masters crown.

The Serb collected his fifth title of 2016 after winning the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Miami Open and Australian Open, in which he also defeated Murray in the final.

The Scot, who also lost second place in the world rankings to Roger Federer, knocked out crowd favourite Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals but Djokovic proved a more formidable opponent, breaking him three times in the opening set.

Murray hit back in the second but had no answer in the third as Djokovic repeated his 2011 Madrid Open triumph.

“I started very well and played terrific tennis in the first set,” said Djokovic.”There were a couple of close games in the second set … and I made some unforced errors and double faults in the game when I dropped my serve. So I fought…very hard.”

Djokovic also collected his 64th career title, equalling tennis greats Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg. “It’s obviously very flattering to be alongside such legends of the sport, players that I looked up to, especially Pete Sampras,” he said. “When I was growing up he was ruling the tennis world. To win as many titles as he did in his career, it’s quite amazing.”

Murray said his opponent played the better tennis.”Novak has had a lot of wins against me in the last couple of years unfortunately but he has done some great things and also deserved this win,” the Scot added.”At the end he came up with some big serves and got himself some free points and did well. That’s why he’s number one just now.”

World number one Novak Djokovic will meet second-ranked Andy Murray in a blockbuster final at the Madrid Open after beating Kei Nishikori 6-3 7-6 (4) on Saturday.

Defending champion Murray knocked out home favourite Rafael Nadal in the other semi-final at the Caja Magica, repeating his victory over the Spaniard in last year’s final as he won 7-5 6-4.

Djokovic looked on course for a comfortable win after breaking world number six Nishikori twice in the first set and earning three match points in the second when he was 5-4 up.

The Japanese fought back, saving the three match points and breaking the Serb before forcing the tie break where Djokovic prevailed 7-4.The 11-times grand slam winner beat Murray in straight sets in the Australian Open final in January and Djokovic is excited to be renewing his rivalry with the Scot.

“Andy has improved tremendously on clay and has proved he is definitely one of the best in the world on this surface,” he said.”The rivalry continues and we’ve had so many good finals. I look forward to another one.”

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov smashed three rackets on his way to losing the Istanbul Open final to Argentine Diego Schwartzman on Sunday.

Second seed Dimitrov was one set ahead and 5-2 up in the second before Schwartzman, the world number 87, fought back to win the his first ATP title 6-7(5) 7-6(4) 6-0.

“I let myself down, I let my team down, I let my family down with that behaviour,” Dimitrov told reporters.”I started cramping at 5-2 in the second set. It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t close out the match. I have to give credit to Diego.”

Dimitrov, the world number 29, lost 11 of the last 12 games of the claycourt match, smashing up two rackets along the way. The world number 29, trailing 5-0 in the third set, then broke up another racket when level at 40-40 in the sixth game of the set, resulting in a match-ending penalty.

German Philipp Kohlschreiber won Munich’s ATP tournament for the third time after downing rising Austrian star Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final.

Having won the 2007 and 2012 titles, Kohlschreiber, ran out the 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) winner after a huge tussle in the final which lasted just under two and a half hours.

Having lost the first set on a tie-breaker, the 22-year-old Thiem rallied to take the second, breaking Kohlschreiber to go 4-3 up as the set then followed serve.

Kohlschreiber, 32, was not to be denied and squandered two match points at 5-4 up in the third before Thiem broke back to take the game to a second tie-breaker.

Having lost to Britain’s Andy Murray in last year’s Munich final, this is Kohlschreiber’s seventh career ATP title.

Thiem, ranked 15th in the world, has a bright future and has already picked up 26 wins and two titles this season.

Kohlschreiber, ranked 27th in the world, steam-rolled his way to his fifth Munich final after seeing off compatriot Florian Mayer, Juan Martin del Potro and Fabio Fognini en route.

Three very long and extremely disputed finals – never before six tie-breaks were played in the finals of the same week – marked the end of a tennis week in which the German Philipp Kohlschreiber, the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman and the Spanish Nicolas Almagro were the winners in Munich, Istanbul and Estoril, respectively.

Nicolas Almagro won in Estoril, beating Pablo Carreño-Busta, 6-7 (6) 7-6 (5) 6-3 to raise his 13th ATP title – all on clay – four years after his last victory in Nice 2012. Almagro, after his injury of 2014 lost his top-100 status – he became number 9 in the world in 2011- rises with this victory to the 48 position of the ATP, coming back to the top-50.

Carreño played a magnificent tournament defeating Verdasco, Simon and Paire and staged the final – the second of his career after Sao Paulo last February – without losing a single set. A great performance that was very close to crown with a victory in the final. By the way, the fifth played between two Spanish in the history of the tournament that has a marked Spanish flavour; not in vain, Almagro is the tenth member of the “Armada” who wins this title. Estoril Open Roll of Honour

Kohlschreiber, ATP number 27, won a thrilling match of 2 hours and 31 minutes to the Austrian Dominic Thiem by 7-6(7) 4-6 7-6(4). Kohlschreiber had two match points with 5-4 and service in the third set but Thiem managed to lead the match to the final tiebreak, where he finally succumbed.

With this triumph, Kohlschreiber gets his seventh ATP title and his third in Munich, undoubtedly his favourite tournament, where he also has played two other finals. To achieve this, the German had to break the extraordinary Austrian streak, who had won this season the 14 previous matches he had led to the decisive set. Kohlschreiber, winning two tie-breaks, was also able to break the impressive statistics of 12-4 presenting by Thiem in the tie-breaks of this season.

Kohlschreiber, as he did it last week reaching the Godo semifinals, showed he is in a great moment. Before facing Thiem, he defeated Florian Mayer, Juan Martin del Potro and Fabio Fognini losing only 15 games and leading the final stats of the tournament in percentage of total service points won and total return points won. Munich 2016 stats

As for Thiem, he still leaves good feelings despite the loss. Munich has been his third final of the year – he won the previous two in Buenos Aires and Acapulco – and he is the player with more victories on the season, with 29, one more than Djokovic. The Austrian will play in Madrid against Del Potro and there could be an exciting match in third round before Roger Federer. 2016 wins ranking

In Istanbul, Diego Schwartzman got opening his ATP track record by defeating in 2 hours and 47 minutes the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-7 (5) 7-6 (4) 6-0. After a 2015 empty of titles for the Argentines, it is the third this year, after Monaco and Delbonis, who wins a tournament. The way was hard for Schwartzman who spent 7 hours and 50 minutes on court in the last three rounds and beating the seeded number 1 and 2 of the tournament – Tomic and Dimitrov – as well as Dzumhur and Delbonis, two players who are getting great results in recent weeks. Very meritorious the victory of the Argentinian who also was the best retriever of the tournament with 48.44% of total points won. Istanbul 2016 stats

New disappointment for Dimitrov who, after the three titles achieved in 2014, he has not returned to taste the sweetness of the victory. This time he came close to break the curse by winning the first set and leading 5-2 the second set. But anxiety seized him and allowed the reaction of Schwarzman who won the second set in the tie-break. Starting from there, a completely deranged Dimitrov – broke several rackets during the match – was unable to present any resistance and he lost the set without winning any game, getting only 8 points. Bad times for the Bulgarian who is struggling to meet the expectations that were placed on him.

During the week also stood out Alexander Zverev, Ivo Karlovic and Nick Kyrgios, semi-finalists in Munich, Istanbul and Estoril, respectively. The promising German got an impressive victory before David Goffin and he already counts 16 wins, two more than he could achieved throughout 2015. Kyrgios won the clash against Borna Coric and he only gave way to the greater experience of Almagro on clay. Karlovic got in Istanbul his two first victories of the season – he had a balance of 0-7 – and showed that he has not forgotten how to serve. He scored 42 aces in 41 service games and he did not lose a single service in the tournament. Dimitrov beat him in two tie-breaks without having a single break point in the match. Istanbul 2016 stats (2)

This week the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid with all the top-20 in action, with the only absences of Main Cilic and John Isner and great expectation around Nadal who, by the way, has a complicated draw with Federer, Murray and Djokovic on the way of the title. Although with the excellent roster of the tournament the difficulty will be the maximum for all players.

Rafael Nadal maintained his ominous claycourt form by seizing back the Barcelona Open title from Kei Nishikori with a 6-4 7-5 victory on Sunday, matching Guillermo Vilas’s record title haul on the surface.

A week after reclaiming the Monte Carlo crown, the 29-year-old Spaniard returned to another of his favourite hunting grounds to end Nishikori’s two-year hold on the trophy and take his tally in the Catalan capital to nine.

Playing with the kind of authority that once made him almost unplayable on European clay, Nadal looked poised for a comfortable victory until Nishikori broke back in the second set to make Nadal dig deep.

He would not be denied, though, sealing victory after two hours when Nishikori slapped a forehand into the net.Nadal, who will target a 10th French Open title next month, had not won back-to-back titles since 2013.

He and former Argentine great Vilas have both won 49 claycourt titles and Nadal will be confident of edging ahead when he moves on to Madrid and Rome before Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal maintained his ominous claycourt form by seizing back the Barcelona Open title from Kei Nishikori with a 6-4 7-5 victory on Sunday, matching Guillermo Vilas’s record title haul on the surface.

A week after reclaiming the Monte Carlo crown, the 29-year-old Spaniard returned to another of his favourite hunting grounds to end Nishikori’s two-year hold on the trophy and take his tally in the Catalan capital to nine.

Playing with the kind of authority that once made him almost unplayable on European clay, Nadal looked poised for a comfortable victory until Nishikori broke back in the second set to make Nadal dig deep.

He would not be denied, though, sealing victory after two hours when Nishikori slapped a forehand into the net.Nadal, who will target a 10th French Open title next month, had not won back-to-back titles since 2013.

He and former Argentine great Vilas have both won 49 claycourt titles and Nadal will be confident of edging ahead when he moves on to Madrid and Rome before Roland Garros.

Confirming the optimal sensations he is showing lately, Rafael Nadal has won his ninth Conde de Godo, in a magnificent and competitive final defeating Japanese Kei Nishikori by the score of 6-4 7-5. Nadal thus confirms the excellent moment he is going through and shows, a week after he did it at the Country Club, that the terrible ordeal of 2015 is fully overcome.

With this victory Nadal reaches 49 titles on clay, tying the legendary register, absolute ATP record, that Guillermo Vilas held since he triumphed in Kitzbuhel in 1983. A mark, which according to the dynamic Nadal is showing, could be pulverized this season. Most ATP titles on clay

Nadal´s balance on clay stands at 358 wins 32 losses, for a great percentage of 91,79%. Federer, with 87,65% victories on grass and Djokovic with 84,23% on hard, are far from the spectacular record of the Spanish, that merits once more his honorific title as best player on clay ever. Wins highest % on clay

This new victory in Barcelona also allows Nadal tie Roger Federer´s mark of 17 titles in tournaments ATP 500 or equivalent, that is, including the Championship Series and International Gold Series which took place from 1990 to 2008. In this category, Federer has won in Dubai (7), Basel (4), Rotterdam and Vienna (2), Halle and Tokyo. For his part, Nadal adds to his nine titles in Barcelona two in Stuttgart and Acapulco and one in Dubai, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Hamburg. Most titles ATP500 and equivalent

The Balearic overtakes again Federer in the struggle that both keep for the record of ATP titles outdoors. Nadal sets the mark at 67 titles, breaking the fourth tie he has had with the Swiss in the last 15 months. Nadal outdoor titles

In addition, Nadal also puts the third “9” in his track record. To get an idea of the value of the Balearic feat, all we need to know is that throughout the Open Era of tennis no player has been able to win a tournament for 9 times. Rafa has done so in three different tournaments. In the history of tennis, only Herbert Ropert-Barrett and Jean Borotra have been able to win 9 times or more in three different tournaments. The British did it in the heroic times of tennis, winning the Championship of Suffolk, Essex and the one of the East of England – official, but no high level, tournaments of the British Lawn Tennis Association- on multiple occasions. As for the French musketeer, he won 12 times the France Championship indoor and the Cup Albert Canet and 11 times the British Championship indoor. Most titles in a single tournament (all time)

The final was very hard, with the services of both players always hanging by a thread. In the first set, Nadal survived once more to the problems caused by Nishikori who had almost always the initiative. The Japanese, more aggressive and playing offence, disposed of eight break point, but he only could convert one. Rafa held all the pounding and he set the 5-4 to take advantage, with his usual mastery, of the Japanese´s pressure, who served in the tenth game with no room for error.

In the second set, Nadal, full of self-confidence, accelerated the pace of game and he disposed of a 4-1 and break point. But Nishikori didn’t give up and he reacted saving the game and breaking Rafa´s service game. The Japanese held on till 6-5 where the pressure choked him again.

Nadal, with 48,66%, led again the statistics of return points won in the tournament, something that he already did in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (counting the results of players with 3 or more matches). His confidence and effectiveness when he comes to retrieve has always been one of the hallmarks of the Balearic. His statistics in this section, both in Monaco and Barcelona, clearly shows the spectacular form he is going through. Conde de Godo 2016 stats

Another remarkable record in this 64th Edition of Conde de Godo was carried out by Feliciano Lopez; the Spanish played his 16th edition of the tournament, matching the mark of Manuel Orantes. Tommy Robredo, who aspired to share the mark with them, could not finally overcome his physical problems and he had to give up his participation. Conde de Godo book of records

In Bucharest, Fernando Verdasco won the title defeating clearly Lucas Pouille 6-3 6-2 in a final which had to be postponed until Monday because of rain. It is the first title for Verdasco since he won in Houston two years ago, seventh of his career. Pouille, a player who has been doing great results in recent weeks, missed his first chance to inaugurate his track record of ATP titles.

Verdasco could finally translate into a great result the good level of play he is showing. The Spanish has signed some great statistics this week, leading the classification of aces (33) and the percentage of service points won (71,89%), giving up only four breaks in the tournament. Romanian Open 2016 stats

The coming week top-10 will take a break; Gilles Simon, David Goffin and Bernard Tomic will seeded the tournaments in Estoril, Munich and Istanbul, respectively. Without a doubt, it is a good opener before the Masters 1000 tournament that lie ahead, Madrid and Rome.

Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Barcelona Open for the ninth time by beating German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-3 on Saturday.

The world number five from Spain next meets defending champion Kei Nishikori after the Japanese ousted Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3 6-2.

Nadal will equal former Argentine great Guillermo Vilas’ record of 49 claycourt titles if he wins on Sunday.