Novak Djokovic began the match by winning five straight game in the first set and it was the sixth game that Andy Murray could manage to find some feet.
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Novak Djokovic: another title, more proof of his transcendent talent. He calls it the Djoker Slam. “I think that helps”, he said when asked whether he had improved on last year’s form that saw him finish with an 82-6 record.
He then added: “I just want to get home”.
But Djokovic fought back from 0-40 down to break Murray s serve for a fourth time, in a game featuring one exhausting 36-shot rally, to lead 6-5 and serve for the second set. A Brazilian player had never won any title at the Australian Open.
Djokovic is undoubtedly one of the greatest champions in tennis history, but will he become the greatest among champions? He has won 13 out of the last 15 after it started out 8-7 (through the 2012 U.S. Open final). It was his third runner-up trophy at Roland Garros.
The world number two said an emotional thank you to Kim in his post-match speech on court and with the contest finishing at just after 10.30pm, he caught an even earlier flight out of Melbourne than planned, at around 1am. He was asked, if he does win at the French and manage to capture four consecutive major championships, would he give it a name? It is starting to resemble Serena Williams’ domination of Maria Sharapova.
The Serbian, who secured his maiden grand slam at Melbourne Park back in 2008, said, while special, every grand slam title has its own unique feeling. It is yet another rematch between Andy Murray the World Ranked No. 2 and the best player on the planet Novak Djokovic in a rematch of the 2015 final. “The results are showing that”.
“I try to follow the same kind of lifestyle and routine that have been helping me to get to where I am”.
With his 11th major title, Djokovic is steadily gaining on Rafael Nadal’s 14 and Roger Federer’s record 17. I’ve won nearly every tournament that I’ve played.
With nine-times French Open champion Nadal no longer the force he was, Djokovic will arrive in Paris as the overwhelming favourite to lift to the Musketeers’ Cup for the first time at his 12th attempt.
He later explained it had been a hard tournament as he was beset by distractions, but which also, however, seemed to take the sting out of his latest Grand Slam disappointment. At his final news conference, Djokovic answered the question with a metaphor. Thanks for all your support and I’ll be on the next flight home, ‘ he said on court.
But Murray, before making a dash to the airport to fly home to his pregnant wife, said he felt he remained in touch with Djokovic despite their widening head-to-head statistics.
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“Of course it served as a great motivation, as a great imperative to play my best”. It’s much easier for the wolf that is going uphill and running up the mountain… he was hungrier than the wolf standing on the hill.
