Andy will aim to claim his first Australian Open singles title when he faces world number one Novak Djokovic on the same court later on Sunday, but the two-time grand-slam victor stayed for his brother’s trophy presentation.
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Jamie Murray of Britain (R) and Bruno Soares of Brazil play a shot against Daniel Nestor of Canada and Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic during their final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 30 January 2016. He was also favored to win his first French Open title past year, riding a 28-match winning streak into the final as the top seed, but was upset by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka, who had only beaten him three times in 20 previous matches. “I used to get in a little bit faster; I feel I’m not as strong as I used to be on the first volley, because I’m not physically as strong to go through it. I feel like I’m kind of struggling on that”, he said.
It is the first time two brothers have made separate finals at the same grand slam since Lawrence and Reginald Doherty achieved the feat at Wimbledon in 1906.
“I don’t know why you’re here taking photos but we’ll be there supporting you”, a tearful Murray said in a court side interview.
“I think that will show up through this year, but Novak certainly has a chance to pull off a Grand Slam”.
It’s an old rivalry – and it was at the same tournament, at the same stage past year, when Novak Djokovic put paid to Murray’s Australian Open hope in the Scot’s 4th finals appearance in Melbourne.
Defeated Federer for the 2014 Wimbledon title, his seventh grand slam.
Kerber summed up the message on Friday: “She told me, ‘Congrats, ‘ and she is happy for me and good luck in the finals”.
Murray admitted that Djokovic has played better in the last two matches compared to the Serbian’s performances in the earlier rounds. I don’t see Murray troubling him this time around either, with Djokovic’s huge confidence helping him on to an easy victory. “It was a very close match for three sets”, Murray said previewing their upcoming final clash.
Djokovic wore down Murray in four gruelling sets to win last year’s Melbourne final, with the opening two sets lasting two-and-a-half hours.
Soares said: “To my partner Jamie it’s only one month but I think we can retire now”.
Murray and Soares, the seventh-seeded team, won 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Djokovic destroyed the all-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in Thursday’s semi-final to yet again underline his dominance in the men’s game, and enter his fifth straight major final.
It may act as some solace to Murray that he is not alone in being dominated by Djokovic of late.
Murray, it is being said, has been serving strongly but Djokovic is the head of tennis’ returning department. “I think someone like Novak is well on his way to trying to accomplish that”.
Williams is after her 22nd Grand Slam singles title, which would tie her with Steffi Graf for most major titles in the Open era.
With four meetings in Dubai, Federer won their first contest in the 2007 quarter-finals, and Djokovic won the next clash in the 2011 final.
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“It’s a possibility for me to make history, which is of course another great imperative for me for tomorrow’s match”, Djokovic said.
