Novak Djokovic became the first man to win three successive Australian Open titles in the professional era when he beat third seed Andy Murray 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-2 in a battle of attrition yesterday.
The Serb, who has now won four of his six grand slam titles in Melbourne, managed to win the important points as the Briton suffered from blisters on his right foot and problems at the top of his left hamstring.
Both players produced superb service games throughout the match with Djokovic the first to achieve a break in the eighth game of the third set, propelling him to the brink of the title after the pair had shared tiebreaks in the first two sets.
Djokovic then capitalised on a flagging Murray, who had battled to a five-set win over Roger Federer on Friday, breaking early in the fourth set and then holding on to clinch the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for the fourth time.
“What a joy. It’s an incredible feeling to win this trophy again,” Djokovic said.
“This is definitely my favourite grand slam. I love this tournament. I love this court.
“I have to congratulate Andy and thank him. We have played so many great matches in the last two years. Bad luck for tonight but I wish you best of luck for the season.”
Djokovic was not the only man chasing a record.
US Open champion Murray, who beat Djokovic in the New York final in September, was also hoping to become the first Briton to win the title since Fred Perry in 1934 and the first man to win his second grand slam immediately after winning his first.
Murray’s first serve, which had caused him problems in the first set, was much better in the second and the Scot reduced the number of unforced errors though neither man looked likely to lose their serve.
Djokovic seized the advantage in the tiebreak when Murray double faulted after he had been forced to stop his serve as a feather from birds in the roof fluttered down on court.
That point gave the Serb a 3-2 lead, which he capitalised on to win 7-3 when Murray hit a backhand into the net.
The Briton then took a medical time-out before the third set began to have sticking plaster and strapping tape applied to blisters around the big toe on his right foot and the momentum shifted to the Serbian.
Djokovic, however, waited until the time was right to pounce on Murray’s weakness, which he did in the eighth game when he claimed the first break of the match after almost three hours of play to take a 5-3 lead.
He then blasted through his service game to love to take the third set in a relatively lightning 41 minutes after the first two sets had taken 68 and 65 minutes respectively.
Murray’s foot continued to give him trouble in the fourth set as he was unable to stop abruptly, change direction, or push off properly to generate power.
Djokovic broke in the third game and sensing the finishing line was in sight, achieved a double break in the fifth and sealed the win when a Murray backhand return thudded into the net.
Last 10 winners
2012 Novak Djokovic; 2011 Novak Djokovic; 2010 Roger Federer; 2009 Rafa Nadal; 2008 Novak Djokovic; 2007 Roger Federer; 2006 Roger Federer; 2005 Marat Safin; 2004 Roger Federer; 2003 Andre Agassi.
Mixed doubles final
Jarmila Gajdosova/Matthew Ebden beat Lucie Hradecka/ Frantisek Cermak 6-3 7-5.