Djokovic beats Murray for sixth Australian Open title

“I feel like I’ve been here before”, Murray said as he collected another runners-up plate. “So I’m sure in the future you’ll have more opportunities to fight for this trophy”. That’s when Murray finally made a match of it to keep the Rod Laver Arena crowd entertained. “Then obviously in the third I felt like towards the end of the set, after I got the break back again, that I was creating a few chances”.

He was also magnanimous in defeat.

In a very short press conference after the match – Murray was serious about getting to the airport as soon as possible – Murray said he’s had a seat booked on almost every flight leaving Melbourne for days just in case. As you can see from the (very long) highlights below, Djokovic wasn’t bad today so much as inconsistent (at least, after his dominant 6-1 first set).

‘The Australian Open Facebook page may have gone a touch early, ‘ one person said. But Murray bounced back and won Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in the final.

Djokobic has now extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 21 matches.

Still, he should have won the third, having led 5-2, served for it at 5-3 and had five set points.

World No. 1 Djokovic is now dominating the men’s game like Roger Federer did a decade ago, but he is keen to ensure that he stays ahead of a ferocious chasing pack that includes Murray.

Murray came back from a break down at the start of the third set to force a tie-break, however, it proved to be in vain as two double faults gave Djokovic a 6-1 lead and allowed the Serb to seal victory with an ace after two hours and 53 minutes.

The supreme Serb proved too strong for world number two Murray as he won a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title, in straight sets, to propel himself further away from his rivals.

Murray said the off-court distractions had taken their toll.

Between Kim’s looming delivery date, and her father, Nigel Sears, collapsing in the stands last week while watching a match between his pupil Ana Ivanovic and Madison Keys, Murray has had a tough fortnight in Melbourne. “I’ll be on the next flight home”, he said. While many European players start on clay, Djokovic took his first cuts at the ball on the hardcourts across the street from his parents’ ski shop and restaurant in the Serbian resort Kopaonik. Kerber went for a dip in the Yarra River on Sunday morning after a night of celebrations after prolonging Williams’ bid to equal Steffi Graf’s record 22 majors in the Open era.

Andy Murray became only the second man since tennis went professional to lose five finals at the same Grand Slam.

With the King of clay Nadal in poor form and injury prone, Roland Garros beckons – and it’s the next on the Slam pecking order.