- Published: 27 Jan 2013 at 17.44
- Online news: Sports
MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic wore down
Andy Murray in a gruelling four-set final to clinch the professional era's
first hat-trick of Australian Open titles in attritional style on Sunday.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the
trophy after winning the men's singles final on day 14 of the Australian Open
tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27, 2013. He beat Murray in a
gruelling four-set final to clinch a hat-trick of Australian Open titles
The Serbian world number one lost
the opening set in a tiebreaker but got progressively stronger to dominate the
suffering Murray and win 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-2 in 3hr 40min.
It was Djokovic's fourth Australian
crown and his sixth Grand Slam title overall, and confirmed him as the game's
premier player.
Djokovic, 25, became the first man
in the Open Era and only the third man ever to win three consecutive Australian
Open titles, joining Australians Jack Crawford (1931-33) and five-time winner
Roy Emerson (1963-67).
"What a joy, it's an incredible
feeling winning this trophy once more and it's definitely my favourite Grand
Slam, my most successful Grand Slam, I love this court," Djokovic said.
Murray, the British world number
three, began strongly but he battled a left hamstring injury and blistered feet
as Djokovic stepped up, winning the important points and most of the
lung-busting long rallies.
"I congratulate Novak. His
record here is absolutely incredible and there are very few people who have
managed to do what he's done here. He's a very deserved champion," Murray
said.
It was Djokovic's second win over
Murray in a Grand Slam final after the 2011 Australian final, and ended the
Scot's unbeaten 13-match run in the majors since his victory over the Serb in
last September's US Open decider.
Djokovic, who was handed the trophy
by four-time winner Andre Agassi, reaffirmed his standing as the number one
ranked player while Murray will remain in the third position behind Roger
Federer.
It continued Djokovic's dominance on
the Melbourne hardcourt surface and capped an impressive fortnight where he
recovered from a draining five-setter over five hours with Stanislas Wawrinka
to score emphatic wins over Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer to reach the final.
In a tight opening set, Murray saved
five break points over two service games before it was decided by a tiebreaker.
The Scot played virtually the
perfect tiebreaker with three mini-breaks against the wavering Djokovic to go
one set up after 68 hard-fought minutes.
And the Serb had to fight off three
break points on his opening service in the second set as Murray remained in
control.
Yet again both players held their
serve and the final went into a second tiebreaker, but this time Djokovic was
the steadier player winning 7/3 to level the match at the 2hr 13min mark.
The turning point came in the eighth
game of the third set when Djokovic won a psychologically important point off
an exhausting 36-stroke rally, leaving the Serb smiling and the Scot gasping.
Djokovic turned up the heat and got
the first service break of the final, after 2hr 51min, on his third break point
and then served out for a two sets to one lead.
Murray was having problems with his
left hamstring and was troubled going to his forehand side as Djokovic began to
take the ascendancy early in the fourth set.
He got two break points in Murray's
second service game and the top seed again came out on top after a sapping
26-stroke rally, breaking the Scot's serve a second time and consolidated for a
3-1 lead.
The end approached as Murray
double-faulted on break point in his next service game, handing Djokovic a 4-1
with the finish line in sight.
Djokovic served out for the
championship and clinched it on his first match point when Murray netted a
backhand.
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