Novak Djokovic sweeps Andy Murray for sixth Australian title

Andy Murray’s hopes of a maiden Australian Open title were once again dashed by Novak Djokovic as the world No 1 won a record-equalling sixth Melbourne title on Sunday.

The win moves Djokovic into a tie with Roy Emerson for most titles at the Australian Open and into fifth place on the list of all-time Grand Slam titles.

The Serb also equals Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg’s Grand Slam singles titles at 11, but is still well behind Federer, who has won 17 major titles.

In the Australian Open the Serbian player won the 11th Grand Slam trophy of his career, this being his 5th one in the Rod Laver Arena.

Novak Djokovic was still walking around Melbourne Park with his trophy, celebrating his record sixth Australian title, when five-time runner-up Andy Murray was heading for the airport in a rush to reunite with his pregnant wife.

The 28-year-old has a staggering 57-6 record in Melbourne, winning his first major title there in 2008 (defeating Tsonga) before returning as champion in 2011 (defeating Murray), 2012 (defeating Nadal), 2013 (defeating Murray) and 2015 (defeating Murray).

He took a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker, setting up five championship points, and finished it off with an ace in 2 hours, 53 minutes.

Djokovic tightened the noose with another service break in the first game of the final set, with Murray looking at the herculean task taking the final to five sets. “I believe that all the guys that are out there fighting each week to get to number one are very hungry to get to number one and I know that…”

“No doubt that I’m playing the best tennis of my life in the last 15 months”, Djokovic said. Nevertheless, the second and third sets produced the sort of tennis we have grown accustomed to seeing from these two great rivals: pulsating rallies from the back of the court, great athleticism as big shots were repeatedly chased down and games decided by the tiniest of margins.

After taking a two-set lead, it was always going to be a waiting game for the top-seeded player. Kim’s father, Nigel Sears, who traveled to Australia as coach for Ana Ivanovic, became ill and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance while Murray was on court in his third-round match.

“I didn’t hit my forehand particularly well at the beginning of the match”.

“Because if I do, the person becomes too arrogant and thinks that he’s a higher being or better than everybody else”. It was also the fifth time in the last six years that he has beaten the Scot here, four of those victories having come in finals.

“I need to be honest and say that it is in the back of my mind and it serves as an encouraging factor, a goal, a motivation, an incentive for the challenges and for the next period in my career”.

Murray, who has been on baby alert all tournament with his wife, Kim Sears, due to give birth within weeks, said he was getting the next flight home after his loss to world number one Novak Djokovic. They stayed on serve to 3-3, then Djokovic broke.

Djokovic’s win follows one of the greatest upsets in Grand Slam history in the women’s competition on Saturday.

“I started the last couple of matches quite slowly, I think, understandably in some respects”.

“It’s very tough for me”.