Djokovic Denies Murray Down-under

We’ve seen it all before the familiar late night drama and pulsating celebrations of Novak Djokovic who again prevailed to claim yet another Australian Open title under the lights of the Rod Laver Area. 

Like many before him the resilient Djokovic proved a step too far for even the fight and determination of Andy Murray. The pair appear to be the new rivalry at the top of the game, but after Murray took his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open last year, it was the Serb’s turn to reinstate his world number one ranking defending his title in Melbourne with a 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 ( 7-3) 6-3 6-2 victory.

The new rivalry at the top of men's tennis

Both Djokovic and Murray entered the match attempting unprecedented history, Djokovic aiming for his third successive Australian Open while a new-look Murray was bidding to be the first man to win his first Grand Slam titles back to back.

Good friends off the court there was little to hide between two current giants of the game. Mentally it was Djokovic who looked the more irritated early on in the match seemingly feeling the weight of the number one ranking.      

Murray’s triumph over Djokovic at last year’s US Open broke an unwanted duck following four defeats in his previous Slam finals. Reminiscent of their meeting in New York the pair were locked into a first set tie break where it was Murray who held his nerve to claim an advantage.

The second set was equally as tight, and was ultimately the key in the match. Murray was suddenly on top but squandered numerous chances to break, as three break points went begging on the Serb’s opening service game of the set.

Djokovic fought hard to emerge from what could have been a fatal storm, as the second set remained in the balance. Just like his semi-final victory over Rodger Federer, Murray was firing on serve, but couldn’t find a way to break as the set unravelled into another breaker.

Then came the turning point, at 2-2 with the Brit serving a feather blew on to the court disrupting play between Murray’s first and second serve. A double fault followed as Djokovic raced through the remainder of the tie break and suddenly the title looked a long way off for Murray.

The match wasn’t the same after that point, as Murray received a medical time out for a nasty looking blister on his foot. After a short lull in the match at the start of the third the world number one found another gear, increasing the intensity from the back of the court.

  

Murray gave it everything to try and fend off the barrage of pressure being forced upon him but in this form on this court the resistant Serb is near unbeatable. The first break of serve in the match proved another decisive incident in game eight, as Djokovic broke to lead 5-3 before serving to take a 2-1 lead and full authority of the match.

It was clear now that Murray’s body was feeling the strain constant clutches at his hamstring suggested the five set thriller with Federer was starting to take its toll.

But Djokovic was in full flow, overall the more aggressive player throughout the match however now it was paying off as the Murray defence slowly weakened.

After a gruelling 3 hours 40 minutes the title was finally sealed concluding a deserved victory for the current world number one, and despite the occasional struggle at times today and in the fourth round against Stanislas Wawrinka no one could disagree that Djokovic deserves his title and remains the one to beat in the future Slams.   

Djokovic Lays Down The Gauntlet

Andy Murray and Rodger Federer take note, because if you want to win this Australian Open title there is an ominous world number one standing firm in your way.

The power and determination of Novak Djokovic have been more than stretched in this competition, but after his 4^th round thriller with Stanislas Wawrinka where he clutched victory from the jaws of defeat, the Serb’s limits have had no visible bounds.

Djokovic hunting for his 3rd successive Australian Open 

Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer were both sent packing, helpless to Djokovic’s brutality. Ferrer, well respected for his heart and fighting spirit, managed only five games as he was soundly despatched 6-2 6-2 6-1 in a one sided semi-final.

Regularly on the offense Djokovic’s tremendous groundstrokes and sheer ruthlessness didn’t allow Ferrer any sort of foot hold in the match, reminding us of the gap between the so called top four and the chasing pack.

The world number one took seven out of as many break points dropping just seven points on serve "I played incredible tennis, I felt very confident and comfortable from the start” said Djokovic following truly remarkable performance.

His motivation is the chance to become the first man in the open era to win three consecutive titles down under, something not even his great rivals Federer and Rafael Nadal have managed.

His never say die attitude has made him even more daunting for opponents; the 10-8 final set victory over Wawrinka earlier in the tournament has been one of many in recent majors.

Djokovic now has a two day rest before the facing the winner of Murray and Federer in what promises to be a thrilling encounter in tomorrow’s second semi-final.

Murray is aiming to be the first man to back up his maiden Grand Slam victory with a consecutive major  title, while Federer hopes to add a staggering 18^th Slam title to his already outstanding record of achievements .

But as Djokovic leads the way in this incredible tennis era, the message is clear that someone is going to have to produce something special to knock the Serb off his commanding perch.  

Murray Battles Past Berankis

When Andy Murray appointed Ivan Lendl as his new coach a year ago it seemed like a partnership going one of two ways. An instant backlash leaving both parties none the wiser or an extraordinary success story of Murray’s long-awaited maiden Grand Slam.   

There’s no question that after Murray’s triumph at Olympics and US Open that Lendl has been the missing piece in a complex jigsaw. Even away from the court the British number one seems a more upbeat likable character expressing his humour which previously seemed hidden.

Murray comfortably through to the second week 

It remains to be seen if the Scot’s breakthrough year will result in even better things to come but it appears that the calm Czech has unlocked the real Andy Murray and it’s clear to see his achievements have gained him a lot of fans over the last 12 months.

Now we are back at the first slam of the year, the Australian Open, where the Murray Lendl relationship began. The passage through to the first week has been rather straight forward; Robin Haase and Joao Sousa were both dispatched with ease in the opening rounds.

Today came a sterner test, as Murray faced Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis a former US open junior champion. Don’t been fooled by the low ranking of Berankis which has been largely down to injury, for the first time in the in the tournament Murray had a battle on his hands. But even short of his best the Brit produced his best tennis at the key moments securing a place in the last 16 with a 6-3 6-4 7-5 victory.

At the start of the match it was one way traffic, as Murray broke in the second game without really having to force the play. Murray’s ability to pull away from opponents, even when not on top of his game saw him race into a 5-1 lead, as errors flew off Berankis’s racket.

However the Lithuanian showed glimpses of talent and variety of shots to steal a break back but it came too late to rescue the set. Murray still had gears to go through, his serve not as dominant as in the previous rounds nevertheless the set was sealed in 39 minutes.

A much improved Berankis started the second set, his flat hitting troubling Murray who wasn’t dictating as he would have liked. Now it was only the Brit’s serve preventing Berankis from breaking but eventfully the pressure paid-off in the sixth game, when Berankis clinched the break gaining momentum to take a 4-2 lead.

That triggered a reaction from Murray who immediately applied some pressure of his own, taking no time in retrieving the break. Now with a good rhythm on serve Murray levelled the set at 4-4 before taking a second successive break, controlling more of the points and looking more engaged in the match.

After serving out the set Murray landed another blow on Berankis in the third game of set three. Murray was given increasing chances at his opponent’s second serve allowing the Brit to get on top of the rallies and break seizing full authority.

Berankis could have fell away at that point, but the Lithuanian clearly thriving on the occasion dug deep to remain in touching distance. The best tennis of the match followed, as both players serving well, stepped up the court producing an entertaining offensive game.

The gap remained a single break until Murray was forced to serve out the match at 5-4 when a combination of the Brit’s errors and inspired play from Berankis levelled the score causing a possibility of an unpredictable tiebreak.

But Murray again responded defending well wearing down Berankis, snatching back his break advantage. On his second attempt Murray wrapped up the match in a total of 2hours 12 minutes.

Murray later said, “we know each other quite well we practise a lot together he hits the ball very flat which was pretty quick in these conditions.”  Murray will now face either Gilles Simon or Gael Monfils in the last 16.

In the Women’s draw the other British interest Laura Robson wasn’t able to back up her brilliant victory over Petra Kvitova going out to American Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-3.  

Boro Stung By Hornets

Middlesbrough  1     Watford  2    

                                             McDonald  90                                    Vydra  45  83

Defeats have been a rarity for Boro at the Riverside this season, but after early optimism things are yet to take off in 2013 following a disappointing display at the hands of promotion rivals Watford.

Vydra proved the difference between the two sides 

In a game which never looked like producing a host of chances in front of goal, the visitors were quick to pounce on any opportunity as Czech striker Matej Vydra maximised an unusual error from Boro captain Rhys Williams to send Watford in front on the stroke of half time.

The match didn’t really turn the way of Tony Mowbray’s side, as a well set up Watford team, managed by Gianfranco Zola more than stood their ground. As Boro’s desperation for a equaliser grew their opponents landed the killer blow through another neat finish from Vydra meaning Scott McDonald’s late header was only a mere consolation.

After a chance to rest players in last week’s FA cup tie against Hastings, Boro welcomed back Josh McEachran, Faris Haroun, Seb Hines and George Friend who have all been absent through injury. The surprise selection from Mowbray was that Nicky Bailey started at right back even though Stuart Parnaby was fit on the bench.

Watford’s different formation of 3-5-2 seen to throw Boro, as the visitors got plenty of bodies behind the ball proving tough to break down, causing few scoring opportunities at either end.

It became clear that Boro were going to have to produce some quality to open up the opposition. A couple of tricks from Emmanuel Ledesma or a pass from McEachran looked a possible answer but the moves petered out, as the hosts appeared to be lacking in the final third.

Eventfully Boro’s hold on possession started to turn into chances, as McDonald finally tested the ability of Watford keeper Manual Almunia who matched the striker’s low shot.

Soon after came arguably the best chance of the half when Lukas Jutkiewitz played McEachran through on goal , the Boro midfielder looked to have rounded the goalkeeper choosing not to shoot only to be crowded out by the remaining defenders.  

For all their stability at the back Watford had barely entered the Boro penalty area, but that soon changed seconds away from half time. Marco Cassetti’s cross from the right was met by Williams attempting to chest the ball back to his keeper. However in doing so the Boro skipper, who was having a solid game, only gifted the ball into the path of Vydra who tucked the ball past a helpless Jason Steele.

Despite the fan’s frustration at half time Boro had controlled large parts of the match in the first half, but after the break they struggled to regain that grip on the game.

After the restart there was some rare end to end action first Ledesma tested Almunia before Steele was forced to be brave charging out to close down Vydra who was through on goal.

Another stalemate period followed but nearly ended in style when Ledesma cushioned the ball for substitute Adam Reach who smashed a left foot volley inches wide of the post with Almunia at full stretch.

The Watford keeper encountered little to do after that and it was the visitors turn to mount up the pressure, as Steele was forced into a flurry of saves denying Almen Abdi, Cristian Battocchio and Vydra whose shots were all on target.

But the Boro keeper was left helpless seven minutes from time as the hosts pushed for an equaliser Troy Deeney launched a late counter attack slipping the ball through to Vydra who calmly slotted in the bottom right corner, causing many Boro fans to decide that was enough.    

    

Deep into injury time the hosts did pull one back as a perfect cross from Reach on the left was flicked past Almunia at his near post by the head of McDonald but it proved too little too late.  

Mowbray later said that the first goal was key “I think we shot ourselves in the foot with the first goal we conceded” said the manager. Boro’s next game is away at Leicester on Friday evening, as they hope to put right the New Year hangover which cost them last season.

Player Ratings

Jason Steele   7.5- Could do nothing about either goal, kept team in the game at 1-0

George Friend   6.5- Tried to get forward when he could but struggled against deep opposition

Seb Hines   6.5- Solid at the back, missed a couple of headers from corners      

Rhys Williams (C)   6.5- Great game up until goal which proved costly    

Nicky Bailey   6- Strange chose at right back a didn’t look comfortable

Emmanuel Ledesma   6- Looked a threat early on but faded as the game went on

Grant Leadbitter   6.5- Comfortable in the first half but struggled to get a grip of the game after halftime

Faris Haroun   6- Struggled to have a real impact on the game in central role

Josh McEachran   6- Replaced in second half also faded through the game

Scott McDonald   6.5- Persisted on the wing but struggled to be effective

Lukas Jutkiewitz   6- Isolated up front for most of the game

Subs

Adam Reach   6.5- Added a spark to the team on the wing in second half

Ishmael Miller   5.5- Came on for last 20 minutes but didn’t make much of an impact

Merounane Zemmama – Came on with little time remaining tough to get involved  

My Boro Man Of The Match: Jason Steele