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.