Australian Open – Day 14 (final)

(3)Novak Djokovic d. (5)Andy Murray        6-4, 6-2, 6-3            (2:39 h)

British people still wait for a big triumph in prestigious disciplines (football & tennis) which originate from the United Kingdom. Murray didn’t fulfill dreams again to become the first British player since Fred Perry (1936) to win a Grand Slam tournament. The final was very equal until the fourth point of the 10th game. Djokovic gave everything then, leading 5:4 (30/15); Murray did the same, and after a 39-stroke rally of dynamic shots with impressive stretching from both sides, Djokovic obtained a double set point. Sometimes just one point in seemingly irrelevant moment of a match decides the final outcome, and it was that case… Djokovic won the next point, took the set and thirty minutes later had a set point to win the 2nd set 6-0! Murray finally ended a 7-game drought but lost the set anyway. The Brit made the same mistake as Nadal in his quarterfinal against Ferrer, despite being outplayed from the baseline in the first two sets (Djokovic was amazing even in Murray’s department – successful moon-lobs from very difficult positions), still was playing from the back of the court in the 3rd set (in the entire match had not win a point thanks to a volley!). He broke Djokovic twice in the set (to lead 1:0 and at 1:3), but in the last three games, it was Djokovic who took the initiative and converted his first match point after Murray’s forehand unforced error that hit the tape. The Serb wins his 19th title, including the second major – joins a group of eight players who won two Grand Slam tournaments (Sergi Bruguera, Lleyton Hewitt, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Johan Kriek, Ilie Nastase, Patrick Rafter, Marat Safin & Stan Smith). Murray on the other hand joins Tony Roche – these two players have lost the most major finals (three) without having won once (the Open era, Roche is a pre-Open era champion). Djokovic said: “Maybe there was a turning point in the whole match, that 5:4 game. I was a bit fortunate, I kind of anticipated well and read his intentions and played some great shots and great moments. It is a big advantage mentally when you are a set up and you are getting to the second set and really going for the shots.” Murray stated: “It was better than it was last year,” despite winning fewer games than in the 2010 final, “I thought Novak played unbelievably well. It’s tough, but you have to deal with it. You always have to try to find a way, to believe. When I got ahead in some games, even in just points, he was sticking up lobs that were landing on the baseline, passing shots that were on the line. I broke his serve twice in the third set and still lost 6-3.” Stats of the final

Doubles final:
(1)Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan d. (3)Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes 6-3, 6-4