Novak Djokovic (photo ©Spekoek) reached the final defeating Aljaz Bedene, Andrey Kuznetsov, Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Muller, Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka. So far he lost a total of two sets, both in the semifinal to Wawrinka. He’s in his fifth Australian Open final and won all his previous four ones.

Andy Murray reached the final by defeating Yuki Bhambri, Marinko Matosevic, Joao Sousa, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios and Tomas Berdych. So far he lost a total of two sets: one in the third round to Dimitrov and one in the semifinal to Berdych. He’s in his fourth final at the Australian Open and lost all his previous three ones.

The two players know each other perfectly and from the beginning details make the difference in the match, especially their second serve. Andy Murray is the first to find a little advantage and in the third game has three consecutive break points but Novak Djokovic manages to win his service game. The Serb raises his level and in the next game breaks the Scot. He’s not on fire for long and in the seventh game Murray breaks him. Djokovic reacts again and immediately breaks him back, serves for the set but loses his service game. The break at 5-4 for the Serb also serves to treat his fingers, which he bruised in a fall. They go to the tie-break, which Djokovic begins with a double fault. Initially Murray fails to take advantage of it but then switches court with a 4-2 lead. A double fault by the Scot brings the mini-breaks to the balance but on 5-5 Murray misses a volley and at the first set point Djokovic wins the tie-break 7-5.

At the beginning of the second set, Novak Djokovic slightly twists his ankle and in the second game Andy Murray breaks him. Those seem the ideal circumstances for the Scot, instead the Serb reacts and breaks him in the third and fifth game. Neither player seems able to maintain a lead and in the eighth game Murray breaks Djokovic again. In the tenth game the Scot has a break point which is also a set point but the Serb wins his service game. On 5-5 the Serb has a total of three break points but the Scot wins his service game. They go to the tie-break, where the Scot takes the first lead at 2-0 and keeps it switching court on 4-2. This time Murray plays well the tie-break, increases his lead, misses an easy backhand on his first set point but wins the tie-break 7-4.

Andy Murray starts well the third set breaking Novak Djokovic in the first game. Given the progress of the match, it’s almost inevitable that the Serb breaks him back in the fourth game. Murray seems to have a little more energy and has a break point on 3-3 but Djokovic wins his service game. Murray gets a bit nervous and in the next game Djokovic takes the opportunity to break him and then close the third set 6-3.

At the start of the fourth set Andy Murray starts having serious problems with his forehand and Novak Djokovic breaks him in the first game. The Scot seems suddenly to suffer from fatigue and with a double fault loses his service game in the third game. After a balanced third set there’s a domain by Djokovic, who breaks Murray again in the fifth game and then closes the fourth set 6-0 conquering the match and his fifth Australian Open title.

Andy Murray is back at top level after a year spent recovering from his back surgery but at the Australian Open he keeps on losing finals. It’s a shame especially for the “bagel” he suffered in the fourth set because he fought great for three sets and at one point it seemed he could even take control of the match. In my opinion we’ll see in Wimbledon his real level.

Novak Djokovic wasn’t even at his best in this Australian Open but though he has some down moments he always fights back. He won the last set of the semifinal and the final 6-0, a sure sign that right now he has something more than his opponents. It will be really interesting to see him face his last challenge, the conquest of Roland Garros.

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