World number two Andy Murray claimed the title at the China Open on Sunday, taking a step toward unseating world number one Novak Djokovic.
The Scot did not drop a single set in the entire tournament and romped to victory in straight sets on a chilly night in the Chinese capital.
Murray’s 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) defeated unseeded Grigor Dimitrov is his fifth title of the year and 40th of his career.
The 29-year-old’s victory moves him 1,000 points closer to long-reigning world number one Djokovic, with the chance of taking the top spot by year-end and capping off a career-best season.
“It was probably my best match of the week,” said Murray.”Considering the conditions were fairly cold, I was still serving over a hundred miles an hour on some second serves.
“I felt using a good variation on that shot, so I didn’t give him a chance to really attack me there and that was probably the thing that I did the best tonight.”
Dimitrov, who had received a free pass through the semi-finals after Canadian Milos Raonic pulled out with an ankle injury, was left overwhelmed by the Scot. “I just didn’t feel that I had another gear,” Dimitrov told reporters.
Murray is the 16th player in the Open era to win at least 40 titles and the fourth active player to accomplish the feat, joining Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.