Djokovic ends Murray's Sony Open title defence post high quality clash in semis

World No.2 Novak Djokovic has ended defending champion Andy Murray's title challenge in the Sony Open by defeating him in a high-quality quarter-final clash on Wednesday at Miami.

The Serb, who won their first meeting since last July's Wimbledon final, beat Murray 7-5 6-3 in his ninth consecutive win and will go on to face Swiss ace Roger Federer or Kei Nishikori in the last four.

According to the BBC, the defeat means that Murray will slip to eighth in the world next week - his lowest ranking since 2008, even though he played arguably his best tennis since winning Wimbledon and undergoing back surgery in September, and he needs to now focus on Britain's Davis Cup tie in Italy next month.

A poor umpiring call saw the players in discussion at the net in the 12th game of the first set, when a replay showed Djokovic had clearly played a volley with his racquet over the net on the first point, which led to Murray dropping serve and berating the official.

However, the umpire insisted the Serb's racquet had not crossed the net when it made contact with the ball, the report added.