China Open: Andy Murray over-powers Grigor Dimitrov to claim 40th career title

Andy Murray further closed the gap on world number one Novak Djokovic with a 6-4 7-6 (7-2) victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the China Open final – his 40th career title.

Murray is in hot pursuit of Djokovic at the top of the rankings and closes to within 1,555 points of the Serbian ahead of the Shanghai Masters, where 1,000 are on offer to the winner.

The Scot should feel confident heading to Shanghai after an impressive showing in Beijing, but made harder work than was necessary of seeing off his Bulgarian opponent.

An opening-game break proved enough for Murray to clinch the opening set despite a first-serve percentage of 29, with Dimitrov making three double faults and winning just 46 per cent of points on his second serve.

Wimbledon and Olympic champion Murray squandered two opportunities to break Dimitrov three games into the second set, but soon made the gain that looked likely to settle the match.

Murray moved into a 3-2 lead on Dimitrov’s serve, but – out of nowhere – was broken to love as part of a run of six consecutive points for Dimitrov.

But Murray held to force the tie-break and won every point on Dimitrov’s serve to wrap up a comfortable shoot-out victory.