Novak Djokovic (picture ©Spekoek) won in Australia his only Grand Slam title in 2008 and obviously he wants to win it again. During these three years has had his ups and downs but last year he reached the second place in the world ranking and the final at the U.S. Open ending the season with a fine contribution to the victory of Serbia in the Davis Cup. He reached the final losing only a set to Ivan Dodig.

Andy Murray is in his second straight Australian Open final. Last year he lost in three sets to Roger Federer, the same result as the other Grand Slam reached the  by the Scot at the 2008 U.S. Open. He reached the final losing a set to Alexandr Dolgopolov and one to David Ferrer.

Novak Djokovic has the first break point in the second game but Andy Murray keeps his serve though struggling. The serve rule is followed until the tenth game, when the Serb takes more risks on the Scot’s second serve, wins a tough rally to get two set points and wins the first set 6-4.

In the second set Novak Djokovic has two break points in the second game and this time he breaks Murray’s serve with the second one. The Scot is overwhelmed by an opponent who at that point has great confidence so he gets broken again. On 5-0 Djokovic has even a set point but this time Murray keeps his serve. The Serb gets distracted and in the next game he loses his serve for the first time but it’s only a moment because right after that he breaks the Scot’s serve again to win the second set 6-2.

Andy Murray doesn’t give up and starts the third set well breaking his opponent’s serve but he play badly the next game and gets broken back. The fourth game is very long but in the end the Djokovic breaks the Scot’s serve again. The Serb however returns the break in the next game, he tries to regain at once and gets two break points but this time Murray keeps his  serve. In the eighth game the Serb succeds in breaking the Scot’s serve and in the next game keeps his service to win the set 6-3 conquering match and tournament.

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Novak Djokovic won a tournament played at a high level and a final in which he had only a brief down moment.

Andy Murray hasn’t won a set in a Grand Slam final after three attempts. Today, his serve was inadequate and he was aggressive only in the third set, when he had nothing to lose, but it was too late. He is still young but now his risk is having a negative mindset that could affect his future.

In recent years, the winner of the Australian Open has then struggled during the season. Novak Djokovic is now in shape and is certainly a more mature player than three years ago so we hope that he’ll give us a lot of fun in the next Grand Slam tournaments.