Novak Djokovic claimed his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open yesterday with a dominant display which shattered Andy Murray’s dream of becoming Britain’s first male major-winner in 75 years.
The Serbian world number three controlled the final on a warm Melbourne evening, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 for his second Australian title, after also triumphing in 2008.
It was the first major final without Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer for three years, as Djokovic proved superior to the listless fifth seed.
“It’s been a fantastic tournament for me and I just take it that way,” Djokovic said.
“Rafa (Nadal) and Roger are the two best players in the world. No question about that. You can’t compare my success and Murray’s success to their success.
“Certainly, this will give me a lot of motivation and confidence for the rest of this season because to win a Grand Slam at the start of the season is the best you can ask for.”
But the misfiring Murray suffered further heartbreak and is now yet to win a set in three Grand Slam finals.
“You always have to try and find a way to get back in. I thought Novak played unbelievably well tonight,” Murray said.
“So when I got ahead in some games and even just in the points, he was sticking up lobs that were landing on the baseline, passing shots that were very close to the lines.”
Murray was bidding to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936, and the first since Perry to win the Australian Open since 1934.
But he was never in the hunt as his game spluttered in the second set and Djokovic ramped up the pressure to seize the final in 2hr 39 min.
It was Djokovic’s second successive Grand Slam final after losing to Nadal in last year’s US Open decider.
“This was a great match. From the start to the last point, I did what I intended of doing tactically and what I prepared for,” he said.
“Physically I was very fit. I had two days between the semi-finals and finals match, which was important at this stage of the tournament.”
Symbolically, the last time Djokovic finished runner-up at the 2007 US Open, he also went on to win the title at the Australian Open the following year against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Djokovic and Murray are close friends from their junior playing days and it was their first meeting at a Grand Slam with the Serb now leading 5-3 in their matches.
Despite the triumph Djokovic will remain world number three behind Nadal and Federer when the new ATP rankings are published today.
It was another bitter experience for Murray in the majors after going down in straight sets to Federer in last year’s Australian final and at the 2007 US Open.
“It’s better than it was last year. It’s tough, but got to deal with it,” Murray said. “I was in a much worse state last year than I was this year. I don’t know why. That’s it.”
In 2010, Murray choked back tears and apologised to British fans after he was unable to serve out the third set while leading Federer 5-3, and then squandered five set points in an agonising tie-break to bomb out 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13/11).
Last 10 winners
2011: Djokovic (SRB)
2010: Federer (SUI)
2009: Nadal (ESP)
2008: Djokovic (SRB)
2007: Federer (SUI)
2006: Federer (SUI)
2005: Safin (RUS)
2004: Federer (SUI)
2003: Agassi (USA)
2002: Johansson (SWE)