Andy Murray, Serena Williams grab Italian Open titles

Andy Murray, Serena Williams grab Italian Open titles

ROME — Andy Murray celebrated his 29th birthday by beating Novak Djokovic on clay for the first time to win the Italian Open title Sunday in a match that Djokovic argued should have been stopped because of rain.

Gaining a measure of payback for his loss to Djokovic in the Madrid Open final a week ago, Murray (ranked third) defeated the top-ranked player 6-3, 6-3.

Earlier, Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all-American women’s final.

Williams’ previous title came in Cincinnati in August — a month before her attempt at a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open.

Djokovic had won all four of their previous matches on clay but had to fight fatigue following draining wins over Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori.

For much of the men’s final, steady rain fell and fans covered themselves with ponchos and held up umbrellas.