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| Novak holds the trophy for a fourth time |
Australian Open 2013 - Djokovic conquers Murray again
In a repeat of their 2011 final Novak Djokovic retained his Australian Open title with a 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2 defeat of US Open and Olympic Champ Andy Murray.
Unlike their clash in New York last September, won by Murray, this was not a thrilling final.
The first two sets lasted two hours and 13 minutes and were certainly close but the match never caught fire.
At Flushing Meadows epic rallies were in abundance and frequently ended with blazing winners. This time around the tennis was more conservative, more efficient. Rallies were often ended with crisp overhead putaways or by forcing the opponent into error but rarely finished with dazzling winning shots.
For two and a half sets there was simply nothing between the players; neither could hit through the other or was willing to give an inch.
As is often the case the dominant player in the opening set - Djokovic - lost the first tie-break - while Murray had the chances in the second set but ended up losing the tie-break.
The British No.1's big opportunity had come leading 1-0 and love-40 in the second set. Two errors and a Djokovic winner snuffed them out and the 3rd seed's chance to take a strangehold on the match had passed.
When the Serb reached the same love-40 situation in the eighth game of the third set he was able to capitalise. Murray saved two break points but found the net with a forehand on the third and Djokovic had the first break of the match.
From there the World No.1 pulled away and a tiring Murray could not maintain his early error free consistency.
Having moved ahead two sets to one Djokovic eased through the fourth set with two breaks and completed his eleventh win in eighteen meetings with Murray after three hours and 40 minutes.
Murray will hope to have a bit more in the tank if the pair meet in another major final in 2013 and certainly will need to go for the jugular if he gets a chance to put himself in charge.
Djokovic has looked on a mission ever since surviving his incredible fourth round encounter with Wawrinka. That close escape seemed to shock the Serbian into action and he looked supreme against Berdych and Ferrer and then did not allow Murray to pull away from him in the final.
The World No.1 will hope to be as impressive on the clay as he looks to complete the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
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| Mutual respect after a second consecutive major final meeting |
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