Supreme Djokovic grinds down Murray for three-peat
Novak Djokovic wore down Andy Murray in a gruelling four-set final to
clinch the professional era’s first hat-trick of Australian Open titles
in attritional style on Sunday.
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Azarenka beats Li
Na |
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Victoria Azarenka. AFP |
Victoria Azarenka won an
incident-packed final against an injury-hit Li Na to
successfully defend her Australian Open title and retain the
world number one ranking on Saturday. After a scrappy match
marked by boos for Azarenka, a break for Australia Day fireworks
and two painful falls for China's Li, the Belarusian top seed
dissolved in tears when she sealed the 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.
Li required two medical
timeouts, when she twice twisted her left ankle and also banged
her head on the court, in a match also interrupted for nine
minutes at a crucial stage by the fireworks.
Azarenka also overcame a pro-Li
crowd that was clearly unimpressed by her controversial medical
timeout in the semi-finals, which she took after blowing five
match points.
AFP |
The Serbian world number one lost the opening set in a tiebreaker but
got progressively stronger to dominate the suffering Murray and win 6-7
(2/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-2 in 3hr 40min.
It was Djokovic’s fourth Australian crown and his sixth Grand Slam
title overall, and confirmed him as the game’s premier player.
Djokovic, 25, became the first man in the Open Era and only the third
man ever to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, joining
Australians Jack Crawford (1931-33) and five-time winner Roy Emerson
(1963-67).
“What a joy, it’s an incredible feeling winning this trophy once more
and it’s definitely my favourite Grand Slam, my most successful Grand
Slam, I love this court,” Djokovic said.
Murray, the British world number three, began strongly but he battled
a left hamstring injury and blistered feet as Djokovic stepped up,
winning the important points and most of the lung-busting long rallies.
“I congratulate Novak.
His record here is absolutely incredible and there are very few
people who have managed to do what he’s done here. He’s a very deserved
champion,” Murray said.
It was Djokovic’s second win over Murray in a Grand Slam final after
the 2011 Australian final, and ended the Scot’s unbeaten 13-match run in
the majors since his victory over the Serb in last September’s US Open
decider.
Djokovic, who was handed the trophy by four-time winner Andre Agassi,
reaffirmed his standing as the number one ranked player while Murray
will remain in the third position behind Roger Federer. It continued
Djokovic’s dominance on the Melbourne hardcourt surface and capped an
impressive fortnight where he recovered from a draining five-setter over
five hours with Stanislas Wawrinka to score emphatic wins over Tomas
Berdych and David Ferrer to reach the final.
In a tight opening set, Murray saved five break points over two
service games before it was decided by a tiebreaker.
The Scot played virtually the perfect tiebreaker with three
mini-breaks against the wavering Djokovic to go one set up after 68
hard-fought minutes.
AFP |
