Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era is intact – for now – after Kerber staged a stunning upset of No. 1-ranked Serena Williams to win her first major at the Australian Open.
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Djokovic joins Australia’s Roy Emerson with six Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophies.
It was also Djokovic s 11th Grand Slam title, putting him in equal fifth place on the all-time list alongside Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, behind leader Roger Federer s 17. “To all the ex players, thank you for coming, it makes coming here and playing this match extra special”.
Emerson won his home major title between 1961 and 1967, an achievement that went unmatched in the 49 years since.
“I think I didn’t hit my forehand particularly well at the beginning of the match. I don’t want to think how far it can go all where my boundaries are”, he said.
“I feel like I’ve been here before”, he joked, referring to his four other Australian Open final defeats.
“First of all I need to pay the respect to Andy and his team”.
Djokovic gained a semblance of revenge a year ago, crushing Nadal in straight sets in the semi-finals, only to stumble in the title decider against Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic has 11 Grand Slam titles to Murray’s two, 61 career trophies to 35 and US$97 million (RM401.9 million) in prize money compared to US$44 million for the Scot. Photo: MADE NAGI, EPA.
The game lasted for two hours and 53 minutes to produce the result.
The Scot played the Open on tenterhooks with their first child due next week, with his wife remaining in London.
Djokovic’s relentless desire for tennis perfection has pushed him to a brilliant level, one that was too high for Andy Murray who lost Sunday’s final 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). After a night in the hospital, Sears was well enough to return home.
After getting on his hands and knees and kissing the court at Rod Laver Arena, and going to the stands to hug Boris Becker, his coach since 2014, Djokovic paid tribute to Murray in his post-match speech.
“You ve been a legend for the last two weeks”. “Had I lost in the third or fourth round it still would have been hard with everything that happened, but she’s been awesome and handled everything unbelievably well”.
“I’m proud that I got into this position”.
One thing for sure Murray and his fellow 28 year old rival are separated by just a week, but Djokovic has given himself a healthy gap in their head-to-head battles.
Djokovic broke Murray twice in a 30-minute opening set, and twice again in the second and once in the third, and only had his serve broken twice.
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After walking around the court and pumping his fist at clutches of thrilled Serbian fans, Djokovic ripped off his shirt and flung it to a young woman who jumped up and down in delight.
