Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray, Australian Open 2016 final

Novak Djokovic admits it’s impossible to ignore the high stakes at play as he sets himself for a fourth Australian Open final showdown with Andy Murray. Match time is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. ET.

Murray sealed another shot at the title after coming from behind to win an epic five-set battle with Canada’s Milos Raonic 4-6 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-2.

They got an early break in the second set and the seventh-seeded Hlavackova and Hradecka, playing together since 2008, never looked like getting back in it.

Djokovic lost five out of six major finals between 2012 and 2014, and the world number one is still yet to triumph at the French Open, losing his third final at Roland Garros to Stan Wawrinka previous year.

“Andy [Murray] should have been in bed, I don’t know why he’s here taking photos”.

“I’ve played him many times and been in the situation before where I haven’t won specific tournaments, like Roland Garros for example, against players like [Rafael] Nadal who were dominating there”, the world number one said in his pre-match news conference.

Djokovic, the reigning Australian, Wimbledon and US Open champion, warned he was “in the peak of my career” after his scintillating semi-final win over Roger Federer. But I’ve played very good tennis here. “They will be thinking and talking about the two Grand Slam finals Andy has beaten Novak in and won’t be thinking about the losses”.

Djokovic knows the dangers of being overconfident, however, as he chases his 11th overall Grand Slam title, which would put him in a tie with Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver for fifth on the all-time list.

It felt like a major opportunity missed but Murray and Soares came out fighting and immediately hit back with a break against Nestor, leaving Soares to serve for the title.

It was the second time Raonic had been in a Grand Slam semifinal.

Murray finished off his ailing opponent with a sublime crosscourt backhand volley to bring up a match point, which he converted with a handsome forehand victor.

Andy, a four-time runner-up at Melbourne Park, said the quadruple of finals was a fantastic achievement but admitted it would be even sweeter if all three Britons can go on to win their respective titles.

With his wife, Kim, heavily pregnant at home in Britain and his father-in-law collapsing at the tournament, it has been, says The Guardian, a fortnight of “anguish and struggle” for Murray “and there nearly certainly is more to come against Novak Djokovic on Sunday”.

“She told me, ‘Congrats, ‘ and she is happy for me, and good luck in the finals”.

Of Djokovic having an extra 24 hours to recover for the showpiece following his four-set win over Roger Federer on Thursday, Murray added: “It’s worked both ways for me”. The odds of Murray winning in straight sets (16/1) compared to Djokovic (11/10) only serve to emphasise how great a gulf the Brit has to cover. But of course I don’t underestimate him.

At the start of the fourth set, Raonic called for the trainer. Upset at his sliding performance, Raonic lashed out during the fifth set.

“Adding to that the fact that I am able to make history is of course just an additional encouragement and incentive for me to do well”.