Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1, hammered a misfiring Andy Murray in straight sets to win a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title and strengthen his grip on men’s tennis on Sunday.
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While Federer (17 majors), Nadal (14), Sampras (14) and Australian Roy Emerson (12) still top Djokovic in the list of all-time grand slam title holders, it is not inconceivable that within a few years, the Serb will have left everyone in his wake.
“To Mr Roy Emerson, who isn’t here tonight, it’s a privilege to match your record of six Australian Open titles”.
The world number two set his stall out early, attacking Djokovic’s second serve in the very first exchange and then opening up a break point which his opponent saved with a backhand victor. “Novak winning six Opens is an incredible feat, what he’s done in the a year ago – 11 titles last season, and two so far in 2016 – is incredibly consistent”.
“Regardless of today’s result it’s been hard”, added Murray.
Djokovic won 24 more points than Murray, 123-99, in the final, while Murray made a total of 65 unforced errors – including 28 off his forehand and 29 off his backhand.
He said: “I’ve heard actually one nice metaphor yesterday”.
“Most of the matches we played in slams I think have been competitive”, Murray said.
Djokovic broke No. 2 Murray twice in the opening set, twice again in the second and once in the third. Had I lost in the third or fourth round it still would have been hard with everything that’s happened.
“I do think I could have played a bit better, like I said”.
Choking over his words as he spoke to the crowd after the defeat, Murray said he had a message for Kim, who “is going to be watching back home just now”. That alone raises the possibility of a true Grand Slam, which requires winning all four major tournaments in the same calendar year and which no man has managed since Laver did it for the second time in 1969.
Murray admitted before the tournament he would leave the Open if it looked like she was going to have the baby.
“Obviously it’s not good to begin matches like that against someone like Novak”. “Because if I do, the person becomes too arrogant and thinks that he’s a higher being or better than everybody else”. “You can observe it from different sides, but 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”.
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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. Though Murray battled back as he got the break back for 3-all but was unable to take control in the tiebreaker.
