Novak Djokovic crushed Andy Murrays Australian open dreams
for the second year running, after the Brit battled to a heart-breaking defeat
in a thrilling contest lasting 4 hours 50 minutes. Murray had fought back from
5-2 down in the deciding set, as he couldn’t convert break points at 5-5 to
serve for the match. And world number one Djokovic showed just why he’s top of
the men’s game with a super human performance finally prevailing in the match of the tournament with a score of
6-3 3-6 6-7(4)6-1 7-5.
The first set started with both players being aggressive, as
they traded serve trying to control the play. But it was Djokovic who landed
the first blow, as a careless game from Murray gave him little time to recover
before conceding the first set in 47 minutes.
Djokovic looked to have the match in control, as a Murray
hangover from the first set gifted the Serb an early break. However Murray
stuck to the game plan and continued to be aggressive limiting his opponent’s
options before turning the set around to lead 4-2. Breaks of serve were again
exchanged but it was Murray who found his best tennis at the right moment to
level the match.
Murrays triumph had
his opponent on the ropes in set three, as the defending champion appeared
short of fatigue. Nevertheless Djokovic dug deep squandering three set points
of his own ultimately leading to a tie break. Then it was Murray, who found a
new level, as Djokovic crumbled leaving him with a 2-1 deficit.
But in the blink of an eye it was level again when Murray was
unable to capitalise on his advantage, as errors crept into his game dropping
three service games without reply. But crucially he didn’t make Djokovic serve
it out allowing the Serb to serve first in the vital fifth set.
In the decider it was Murray who seemed to be
tiring hanging on in exhausting conditions. Then the world number one made has
move finding the shots to take a 5-2 lead. However a determined Murray would
not back down making the defeat even harder to take, after levelling at 5-5 he
couldn’t put away two break points when a gutsy Djokovic found the line. The
world number one then took his chance to book his place in his second
successive Australian open final where he will meet Rafael Nadal. For Murray he
needs to take a lot of pride from this match, after going toe to toe with the world’s
best in a match that could easily gone the other way. 
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