Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win his sixth Australian Open title.
The world No 1 won 6-1 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to claim his sixth Melbourne title, tying the record of Australia’s Roy Emerson.
Novak Djokovic, 28, also draws level with tennis greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on 11 Grand Slam titles.
Andy Murray, 28, has now lost all five Australian Open finals he has played, four of them against Novak Djokovic.
Photo Getty Images
The Scot becomes only the second man – behind his former coach Ivan Lendl at the US Open – to lose five finals at the same Grand Slam since the open era began in 1968.
Andy Murray was expected to head straight to the airport after the final to return to London and his wife Kim, who is due to give birth to their first child in the next two weeks.
Novak Djokovic has now won four of the past five major tournaments, including three in a row, and will try to complete his career Grand Slam with a first French Open title in June 2015.
Novak Djokovic has beaten Andy Murray to win his fifth Australian Open title in Melbourne.
World’s No 1 came through 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 in three hours and 39 minutes.
It was a third win over British number one Andy Murray in a Melbourne final and brought him an eighth Grand Slam title.
Andy Murray, 27, has now won two of the eight Grand Slam finals he has played in, having lost all four in Australia.
“I would like to congratulate Novak – it is a fantastic record and thoroughly deserved,” said Andy Murray.
“It is probably my most consistent Grand Slam throughout my career but I just haven’t been able to win.”
Andy Murray, who underwent back surgery towards the end of 2013 and was playing in his first Grand Slam final since winning Wimbledon earlier that year, added: “I’m closer than I was a few months ago.
“I’ll try to come back next year and have a slightly different outcome in the final.”
Andy Murray, who will return to fourth in the world rankings on February 2, had chances in each of the first three sets of the final but ultimately lost his way and his temper as Novak Djokovic won 12 of the last 13 games.
Novak Djokovic, a week younger than his opponent, did look vulnerable at times, hurting his hand in a fall and appearing to struggle with an ankle problem early in the second set.
The Serb saw off one final moment of danger at break point in game seven, gesturing to coach Boris Becker to become more animated, but he required no assistance.
Andy Murray was a rapidly fading force, double faulting to drop serve at 5-3, and winning just 11 points in a fourth set that disappeared in under half an hour.
Novak Djokovic celebrated by throwing his racquet into the crowd, while a furious Andy Murray smashed his in despair.
“I’m honored to be standing here as a champion for a fifth time,” said Novak Djokovic after collecting the trophy from Australia’s Roy Emerson, the only man to win six titles.
Scottish tennis player Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon title and ended Britain’s 77-year-wait for a men’s champion with a brilliant victory over world number one Novak Djokovic.
Andy Murray, 26, converted his fourth championship point in a dramatic final game to win 6-4 7-5 6-4 and claim his second major title.
Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon title and ended Britain’s 77-year-wait for a men’s champion with a brilliant victory over world number one Novak Djokovic
In an atmosphere reminiscent of his Olympic final win last summer, Andy Murray was willed on by the majority of the 15,000 spectators on Centre Court, thousands watching on the nearby big screen and millions more around the country.
And after a gruelling three hours and 10 minutes in temperatures exceeding 40C (104F), Andy Murray finally followed in the footsteps of Fred Perry’s 1936 win at the All England Club.
Fred Perry used to leap over the net in celebration, but Britain’s new champion roared in delight before sinking to his knees on the turf.
The final game had been a battle in itself, with Andy Murray seeing three match points slip by from 40-0 and fending off three Novak Djokovic break points with some fearless hitting, before the Serb netted a backhand to end the contest.
Andy Murray then headed into the stands to celebrate with his family and support team, before parading the trophy around Centre Court.
Serb Novak Djokovic won his fourth Australian Open title after beating Briton Andy Murray in Melbourne final.
Novak Djokovic, 25, was the stronger man over three hours and 40 minutes, winning 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-2, as Andy Murray struggled to cope with blistered feet and an increasingly rampant opponent.
“I played a good second set,” said Andy Murray.
“I created quite a few chances, but didn’t quite get them. That was the difference.”
And despite admitting that the blister “hurt when I ran”, he insisted: “It had no bearing at all on the result.”
Novak Djokovic secured his sixth Grand Slam title and became the first man in 46 years to win for three years running in Melbourne.
“It’s an incredible feeling winning this trophy again,” said the champion.
“It’s definitely my favourite Grand Slam, my most successful Grand Slam. I love this court.”
After losing an opening set he probably should have won, with five break points to none for Andy Murray, the top seed turned the tables in the second by grabbing the tie-break.
Novak Djokovic won his fourth Australian Open title after beating Andy Murray in Melbourne final
Andy Murray had been in charge but was disrupted when serving at 2-2, a feather floating down onto the court following a missed first serve, and after removing it he promptly double-faulted and smacked a forehand wide.
He won just one more point in the tie-break as Novak Djokovic took control to level after two hours and 13 minutes of action.
The physicality of the contest appeared to be taking its toll when Andy Murray then required treatment for blisters at the changeover.
He failed to capitalise on 0-40 at the start of the third and that proved to be the decisive moment as he began to grimace between points, clearly struggling to move freely.
It took two hours and 52 minutes of absorbing but rarely thrilling tennis for the first break of serve to arrive, and it went to Novak Djokovic.
A thumping forehand into the corner set him on the way at 4-3, and despite saving two break points from 0-40, Andy Murray could not resist any longer and netted a forehand.
Novak Djokovic went on a run of eight out of nine games as he moved two sets to one up and the Briton’s serve unravelled, the double-fault count rising to five after just two in his other six matches in Melbourne.
Unhappy with the umpire for not clamping down on shouts from the crowd, and with his movement hindered, Andy Murray cut a dispirited figure as Novak Djokovic powered towards another major win.
In marked contrast to his opponent, the Serb was relishing the closing stages and romped home towards match point, one delicious drop shot verging on the cruel.
Novak Djokovic wrapped it up on serve when Andy Murray netted a backhand and did a jig of delight on court before heading over to celebrate with his support team.
With six Grand Slam victories, he matches the likes of Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Don Budge and Jack Crawford in the all-time list – and there could be plenty more to come.
Briton Andy Murray battled past Roger Federer in five sets to reach his third Australian Open and sixth Grand Slam final.
Andy Murray, seeded third, will face world number one Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final after beating Roger Federer 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2.
It required a dramatic four hours on Rod Laver Arena, with Andy Murray dominating for the most part but Federer’s brilliance keeping him alive.
Andy Murray served superbly, firing down 21 aces, only for Roger Federer to dominate the two tie-breaks.
And after failing to serve out the match in the fourth set, it looked as though Andy Murray might have missed his chance when it came down to a fifth.
However, just like he did in winning his first major title at the US Open, Andy Murray rose to the occasion in the deciding set and raced away with it.
Roger Federer had needed five sets to win his quarter-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga two days earlier, and he was overpowered this time.
An early break when Roger Federer framed a backhand was enough as Andy Murray rediscovered the potent serving of the early stages, closing it out when Federer sent a forehand long.
The major concern around Andy Murray before the match had been that he had not been tested in five straight-sets wins, but a thumping forehand winner on the second point suggested he was not suffering from a lack of intensity.
Returning superbly, he kept Roger Federer on the back foot from the outset as the Swiss struggled to win any free points on serve.
Andy Murray missed a break point in the opening game and forced another three two games later, grabbing the break with a cross-court forehand at the fifth opportunity.
Roger Federer saw an ace fly past him after fashioning his first chance of the match in game four, and he would not earn another break point until the fourth set.
Andy Murray saw out the opener in 45 minutes and continued to dominate in the second, but Roger Federer at least began to gain a foothold.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion provided enough flashing winners to keep his large following happy and made it to the sanctuary of a tie-break, which he dominated.
Andy Murray battled past Roger Federer in five sets to reach his third Australian Open and sixth Grand Slam final
Two wayward forehands from Andy Murray gave Roger Federer the perfect start and, after being pegged back to 5-5, the Swiss played a magnificent backhand pass after the Scot failed to put away a smash.
The set was his but the momentum did not shift. Andy Murray slapped a forehand wide on an early chance in the third set but visibly geed himself up after a strong hold at 3-2, and moments later broke to love.
Two more thunderous aces took him to the set and restored the lead his play deserved.
Roger Federer was not done, capitalising on a sloppy game from his opponent to move 4-1 up in the third, but when the Briton came storming back to level and then broke for 6-5, the end appeared imminent.
Andy Murray powered his way to 30-0, two points from victory, with a thumping forehand followed by a snarl of satisfaction, only for Roger Federer to ignite the crowd with a blistering backhand winner as he recovered the break and forced a second tie-break.
Again, Andy Murray started poorly, dazed by his missed opportunity, and Roger Federer raced through it to force a deciding set – the first time in his long career that the Swiss had played back-to-back five set matches.
Andy Murray might have been expected to crumble, but just as against Novak Djokovic in New York last September, he played a superb final set.
It was Roger Federer who lost his way, framing a backhand under huge pressure to give up the crucial break in game two, and Andy Murray resumed the serving prowess of earlier as he powered towards the finish line.
A forehand down the line brought up match point on the Federer serve, and the Swiss cracked one final time with a mistimed forehand to send Andy Murray back to the Melbourne final for the third time in four years.
However, just like he did in winning his first major title at the US Open, Andy Murray rose to the occasion in the deciding set and raced away with it.
Andy Murray predicted another physical encounter against defending champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s rematch.
“He is an unbelievable mover so I will need to be ready for the pain, but I hope it is a painful match because that means it will be a good one,” said Andy Murray.
Andy Murray ended Britain’s 76-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion with an epic victory over Novak Djokovic in the US Open final.
Andy Murray, 25, emulated Fred Perry’s 1936 achievement, winning 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 in four hours 54 minutes in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He also reached the Wimbledon final and won Olympic gold this summer.
“When I realized I had won, I was a little bit shocked, I was very relieved and I was very emotional,” said Andy Murray.
Despite his other successes, this result will arguably have a greater impact on his career and the future of tennis in the United Kingdom.
Andy Murray – the new world number three – lost his first four Grand Slam finals to share an Open-era record with coach Ivan Lendl, but like the Czech he has triumphed at the fifth time of asking.
Andy Murray ended Britain's 76-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion with an epic victory over Novak Djokovic in the US Open final
And while it is a dream of Andy Murray’s to win Wimbledon, the British number one has long been tipped to make his breakthrough at Flushing Meadows in the final major of the year.
He was the boys’ singles champion there in 2004, hard courts are his favourite surface and he enjoys the atmosphere in New York.
Andy Murray is unlikely to ever forget the atmosphere inside the world’s biggest tennis arena as he celebrated his success, which arrived in his 28th appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.
A swirling wind made conditions troublesome for both players, but it was Andy Murray who coped better in the first two sets and eventually ended Novak Djokovic’s title defence and 27-match hard-court winning run at majors.
“They were incredibly tricky conditions,” said the right-hander from Dunblane.
“Novak is so strong, he fights until the end of every match and I don’t know how I managed to come through in the end.”
After early breaks were exchanged, Andy Murray struck again before moving 4-2 ahead following a game that included a 54-shot rally.
Novak Djokovic rallied to force a tie-break, yet his opponent showed greater belief and took a sixth set point with 87 minutes on the clock.
Andy Murray roared with delight and carried his momentum into the second set, breaking an out-of-sorts Novak Djokovic twice for a 4-0 lead.
A lapse in concentration allowed Novak Djokovic back in and when the Serbian landed a majestic lob for 5-5, Andy Murray clutched his left thigh.
There were no signs of injury, though, as Andy Murray held to 15 and then forced a flurry or errors from the world number two, opening up a two-set lead for the first time in a Grand Slam final.
The crowed urged Novak Djokovic to respond and he did – threatening in game one of the third set before making his move in game three.
Andy Murray was now starting to berate himself and voice his frustrations in the direction of his player box, never more so than when two backhand mistakes saw chances squandered in game six.
He then fell a double-break down thanks to an incredible backhand on to the baseline from Novak Djokovic, who easily closed out the set.
Novak Djokovic looked revitalised, Andy Murray weary, and the right-hander from Belgrade swiftly found himself 2-0 up in the fourth set.
Just when it seemed Andy Murray might respond, Novak Djokovic was called for a time violation and he angrily took his performance to a new level.
When Andy Murray’s backhand broke down again, Novak Djokovic leapt with joy and it seemed he could become the first man since Pancho Gonzales in 1949 to rally from two sets down to win the US Open.
But Andy Murray had other ideas and made a devastating start to the decider, breaking in game one and consolidating it with some defensive play of the very highest order.
The third seed was in dreamland when Novak Djokovic netted a forehand to hand over the double-break, only for a nervous Andy Murray to immediately surrender one of his strikes with a timid backhand.
A love service hold put Andy Murray back on track and he advanced to within one game of victory when Novak Djokovic netted a forehand.
Andy Murray served out the championship 79 years to the day – on the same court – that Perry won the first of eight major singles crowns.
“I’m disappointed to lose, but I gave it my all,” said five-time major winner Novak Djokovic, a friend of Andy Murray’s and seven days younger.
“I had a great opponent today. He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody. I would like to congratulate him.”
Andy Murray’s bid to win Wimbledon was ended by Roger Federer as the Swiss claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title.
Andy Murray, 25, was aiming to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift a major singles trophy.
Roger Federer, 30, won 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court to match the mark set by Pete Sampras and reclaim the world number one ranking.
A tearful Andy Murray has now lost all four of his Grand Slam finals.
Andy Murray was the first Briton to contest the Wimbledon men’s singles final since Bunny Austin in 1938, but fell just short of the ultimate goal.
“Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, but it’s not the people watching – they make it incredible,” said Andy Murray in the wake of his defeat.
“There are mixed emotions. Most of them are negative. The reaction from the crowd was great. I felt like I was playing for the nation and I couldn’t quite do it.”
Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title
Roger Federer fully deserved his victory, which not only sees him level Pete Sampras on seven Wimbledon titles, but also secures him a record 286th week as world number one.
He is the second-oldest man to occupy top spot, goes away with a cheque for £1.15 million ($1.85 million) and will head to the Olympics – also being staged at the All England Club – as clear favourite.
Andy Murray, who collects the £575,000 ($920,000) runner-up prize, now shares his coach Ivan Lendl’s unenviable record of losing his first four Grand Slam finals.
Having made poor starts in each of the previous three – all of which ended in straight-sets defeats – Andy Murray knew it was vital to secure the early momentum.
All was going to plan as a couple of pummelling backhands down the line, a tactic many highlighted pre-match, helped Andy Murray break in the opening game and then consolidate the advantage for a 2-0 lead.
Roger Federer looked uneasy with the pace his opponent was setting and began deploying sliced groundstrokes to slow things down.
A majestic backhand landed on the baseline to engineer a break-back point in game four, and he converted it when Andy Murray found the net.
Both men needed to serve their way out of trouble as the pressure mounted and, crucially, Andy Murray produced a sensational volley at his feet to save the second of two break points in a 13-minute game eight.
He then struck with the help of a forehand pass that Roger Federer ducked to avoid being hit – reminiscent of the aggression shown by Lendl during his career – and comfortably served out the first set.
Statistically, Andy Murray actually improved in almost every area during the second, but the key difference was that he could not take his chances.
Whereas Andy Murray converted both break points that came his way in the first set, he let two slip at 2-2 and another two at 4-4.
Roger Federer held for 6-5 before going on the attack, and he came from 40-15 down to level the match with a sensational backhand drop volley.
Heavy rain arrived at at 16:14 BST with Roger Federer 40-0 up in game three of set three, and the prospect of further downpours saw the roof closed.
When play resumed 35 minutes later the Swiss, who destroyed world number one Novak Djokovic indoors on Friday, was vastly superior and put andy Murray under the cosh in a marathon game five.
Andy Murray was reeled in from 40-0, Roger Federer moving to deuce when the Scot took a heavy tumble at the net, and he slipped again before finally succumbing on a sixth break point.
Roger Federer served out with a crunching ace and averted danger early in the fourth set before striking for 4-2 with a cross-court backhand pass.
He wrapped up his first Grand Slam title since the 2010 Australian Open when Murray hooked a forehand into the tramlines.
“This fortnight was a step in the right direction. I won’t go back on the court until my mind is right and I am over the loss,” added Andy Murray of his future plans.
“The Olympics is a special event and I want to make sure I am ready. If I play like I did this week I have a good chance of winning a medal.”
[youtube rhvTtL6sL0w]
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU GDPR 2016/679. Please read this to review the updates about which personal data we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated policy. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.