2013 Australian Open Final: (1) Novak Djokovic v (3) Andy Murray

[Tony48]

Originally Posted by namelessone

Boring final, that's my conclusion.

As I said yesterday, if Murray gives Djokovic an inch, he loses this match. When he did so at 0-40 in the first game of the second set, it was a slow descent for Andy and Novak got back up.

And you know what, this was a great chance for Murray but he didn't rise to the challenge even though Djoko was just AWFUL for the first set and a half, he kept spraying errors off his FH like crazy whereas Andy was quite solid all around.

Watching these matches I kept thinking "why the hell don't I enjoy Murray-Djokovic GS matches?" and I think it's because their styles are so similar that it simply gets tedious over time. The only decent Murray-Djokovic GS match for me was their AO 2012 SF encounter otherwise it's simply same ol' until Djokovic gets a foot in the door and it's light out for Andy, who had trouble beating Novak in USO even when he was 2 sets up. Oddly enough, their 2 out of 3 matches are quite good most of the time but maybe that's because they tend to be shorter.

And then I reminded myself why I liked Nadal-Federer more or hell, even Nadal-Djokovic,Federer-Djokovic or Nadal-Murray. It's because Nadal and Federer both bring something special to the table, Rafa has his leftie megaspin and unique intensity, Fed brings that classic allcourter game whereas Andy and Djoko are almost carbon copies of eachother.

They are both righties, both have BH better than their FH IMO, both are terrific defenders and movers even though they can be brilliant on offense as well. The differences are very slight, Murray serves a bit better, Djokovic returns better, Djokovic has a better dropshot and so on.

Congrats to Djokovic for his sixth GS title. Well deserved.

Djokovic? Yes. Murray? No.

The Ferrer match serves as a great example of Djokovic playing superb offense. I can't remember the last time Murray was offensive-minded for more than a couple of points.

[BreakPoint]

Djokovic should give half of his winner's prize money to Federer for wearing out Murray before the final and the other half to the chair umpire who told Wawrinka not to challenge that call in the 5th set because the ball was way out which cost Wawrinka the match.

[veroniquem]

Djoko has now won 3 consecutive AO titles but I've wondered what the longest final streaks have been at slams in open era. The record is Lendl at USO who made 8 USO finals in a row between 1982 and 1989 followed by Federer's 7 consecutive at W from 2003 to 2009 followed by Borg's 6 at W: 1976 to 1981 and Federer's 6 at USO: 2004 to 2009. I wonder if Djoko could reach 6 consecutive at AO (an event where nobody has ever made more than 3, at RG, it's 4).

[djokovic2008]

Originally Posted by Tony48

Djokovic? Yes. Murray? No.

The Ferrer match serves as a great example of Djokovic playing superb offense. I can't remember the last time Murray was offensive-minded for more than a couple of points.

Did you see Murray beat nadal in Japan nadal did not one a single point towards the end of the second set and Murray was hitting winners all over the place.

[Masayoshi]

Just finished the replay of this match a few hours ago. Had some nice stretches, but quite lackluster on the whole, I agree. Djokovic v. Wawrinka should have been the final.

Hope Stan brings out his 'A' backhand for the rest of the year!

[Djokodal Fan]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Djokovic should give half of his winner's prize money to Federer for wearing out Murray before the final and the other half to the chair umpire who told Wawrinka not to challenge that call in the 5th set because the ball was way out which cost Wawrinka the match.

Murray should give half the prize money for Tsonga for tiring out Federer.

Berdych, eventhough he lost to Djoker in Quarters should give half the prize money to Wawrinka since he was able to pull off a set from Tired Djoker.

Say what?

[tennis_badger]

it's quite boring. so funny to see murray tried to pull the "ooh no, my leg is cramp!!" after every point on that fourt set

[namelessone]

Originally Posted by Legend of Borg

Why does Murray keep grabbing his leg and wincing when he's losing?

He's been doing that for years now.

So glad Djokovic took him out today.....

It's his version of the Nadal buttpick.

[Tony48]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Djokovic should give half of his winner's prize money to Federer for wearing out Murray before the final and the other half to the chair umpire who told Wawrinka not to challenge that call in the 5th set because the ball was way out which cost Wawrinka the match.

And does Tsonga get any money for wearing out Federer for Murray?

And does Brands get any money for wearing out Tomic for Federer?

And does Monfils get any money for wearing out Simon for Murray?

And does Duckworth get any money for wearing out Bavcic, who allowed Tsonga to be fresh for Federer?

No? I didn't think so.

[veroniquem]

A bit of trivia: which player other than Murray lost 3 AO finals? Edberg. In 90, 92 and 93. Like Murray he lost them to 2 different players: 1 to Lendl and 2 to Courier. Of course Edberg had previously won 2 AO titles. Maybe Murray will win his 2 later on!
Which other player than Djokovic won 4 titles and never lost a final at AO? Agassi.
Which players have played the most finals at AO? Federer and Edberg: 5
Nadal has 1 title + 1 final at AO. Which players have the same as him? Kafelnikov, Connors and Ashe.
Only 2 players who have won the AO have had more finals than titles: Safin (1T + 2F) and Edberg (2T + 3F)
13 players have won AO more than once in open era: Rosewall, Newcombe, Vilas, Kriek, Wilander, Lendl, Becker, Edberg, Courier, Sampras, Agassi, Federer, Djokovic.
Only Djokovic has won it more than twice in a row.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by Tony48

Djokovic? Yes. Murray? No.

The Ferrer match serves as a great example of Djokovic playing superb offense. I can't remember the last time Murray was offensive-minded for more than a couple of points.

Murray had a few matches vs Nadal on hard courts where he just powered him right off the court, had over double the winners. That is the most offensive I ever saw him being. I have never seen him even attempt to play that offensively vs Federer and Djokovic, only moderately offensive at best, and when he wins it is seeminly only through superior consistency on the day.

[Murrayfan31]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

Murray had a few matches vs Nadal on hard courts where he just powered him right off the court, had over double the winners. That is the most offensive I ever saw him being. I have never seen him even attempt to play that offensively vs Federer and Djokovic, only moderately offensive at best, and when he wins it is seeminly only through superior consistency on the day.

That's because Federer and Djokovic hit flatter and deeper.

[raging]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

Murray had a few matches vs Nadal on hard courts where he just powered him right off the court, had over double the winners. That is the most offensive I ever saw him being. I have never seen him even attempt to play that offensively vs Federer and Djokovic, only moderately offensive at best, and when he wins it is seeminly only through superior consistency on the day.

The next step for Murray is to do exactly that...Step up on the serve(especially beef up the 2nd), move up the court, attack the corners & finish enough times with a volley to make it count. It sounds simple but it obviously isn't...
He is strong enough physically, will have to force himself to be more mentally aggressive.
Unfortunately for him: This is totally against his nature!
Murray hates making errors, lives by frustrating opponents out of matches. Until recently that worked well over best of 3 sets (but not against Roger or Novak over 5). He has learned what he has to do against both of these players over 5 sets .
Now he has to execute more consistently against Novak, Roger & Rafa (if he makes it back).
Murray has got the right guy pushing him to move forward & hit the ball.
Ivan was/is the terminator in that regard & he will get the max out of his player. Murray has bought in.

Federer has been doing it longer(since 2002?), obviously knows now more than ever that he has to get in & attack more. He has to be stronger now though, the ball comes back a few more times so he will have to be more athletic at the net. Lots of ballistic lunges at the net are in order.

Djokovic has got it going now & when he penetrates enough times..it is tough for anyone. When he doesn't boss the point he defends like a slippery eel with sharp teeth.Very tough.

Nadal was starting to move forward in 2009, 2010 then overdid it with his clay schedule. When he came back Novak had recovered from his Davis Cup breakdown. Rafa struggles to accelerate & flatten the ball & doesn't feel it as much on the hard. Still the best mover on clay IMO. He was showing signs of rising to the challenge before his body let him down.
The Hard Courts are killing his knees.

Novak then got it going in 2011.
He cooled off a bit in 2012, now it is on again.

So the challenge is clear, who will step up & stop him??

[Grgisme]

It was a very boring final, even I can say that, as a fan of Djokovic.

Murray is killing the game, Nole can be aggressive and entertaining to watch.

[abmk]

Originally Posted by Tony48

Djokovic? Yes. Murray? No.

The Ferrer match serves as a great example of Djokovic playing superb offense. I can't remember the last time Murray was offensive-minded for more than a couple of points.

djokovic is clearly better offensive ability wise, no question.

But murray has played aggressive on occasions - you can't remember the last time murray was offensive ? did you watch the semi vs federer !? or the wimbledon final vs federer ? or many occasions against nadal ? or the olympic semi vs djokovic himself ...

murray won 68 of the points through winners/forced errors from djoker, djoker only 55 points that way ....