Novak Djokovic proved too strong for Andy Murray as he won a fifth Australian Open title in a punishing final. Andy Murray insists the signs are promising that he is getting back to his very best, despite seeing the chance of a maiden Australian Open title slip through his fingers against world number one Novak Djokovic. The Serb, ranked number one, came through 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 in three hours and 39 minutes. It was a third win over British number one Murray in a Melbourne final and brought him an eighth Grand Slam title. Djokovic swung momentum in a close match with a service break in the eighth game of the third set, winning four straight points. When he took a 4-0 lead in the last set, he smacked his fist hard against his chest in celebration. At the end of the match, Djokovic threw his racket into the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. Roy Emerson, the only other man with five or more Australian titles, was in the crowd and Djokovic acknowledged the presence of the six-time champion.
Djokovic had made a blistering start, racing into a 4-1 lead and going 20 minutes before he offered up a first unforced error. It was to Murray’s credit that he twice hauled back breaks to force a tie-break, but a double-fault at 4-2 and a loose volley at 5-5 simply gave Djokovic too many chances. The four-time champion clinched it when Murray netted a return, before suffering an awkward fall chasing a net cord early in the second that required treatment to his hand. Murray moved into a 2-0 lead but saw the advantage wiped out when a rejuvenated Djokovic strung together 13 straight points. Again, Murray fought back, a forehand into the corner making it 4-4, and three break points were saved at 5-5 on the way to a second tie-break. This time the Scot would not relinquish an advantage, winning a gripping rally to lead 5-2 and converting his third set point. When Djokovic netted a forehand to drop serve at the start of the third set, Murray appeared to have finally gained the initiative after two-and-a-half hours. It proved to be his last moment to savour, however. As fatigue took a grip, his second serve slipped from being vulnerable to a liability.
“I’m so grateful to be standing here as a champion for the fifth time, and to be in the elite group of players,” Djokovic said. “I went through the physical crisis in the matter of 20 minutes… end of the second, beginning of the third. “Just felt very exhausted and I needed some time to regroup and recharge and get back on track. That’s what I did.”
After the match Murray said: “I would like to congratulate Novak on his fifth Australian Open, a fantastic, incredible record and thoroughly deserved, so well done.
“It’s probably my most consistent grand slam throughout my career, I’ve just not been able to win but the support I’ve had has been amazing.
“I’d also like to thank my team. We put in a lot of hard work to try and get back in this position after a difficult year last year and unfortunately could not quite do it tonight, but I am little bit closer than I was a few months ago I and I will keep working hard to get there.
“I will try and come back next year and hopefully have a slightly different outcome in the final.”
Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray 01/02/2015, 08:40 GMT, Match Center
Novak Djokovic wins fifth Australian Open title after beating Andy Murray
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