Murray folded, Djokovic pounced - 6-0 final set

[JRAJ1988]

Handing out bagels in the 4th set just showed me Djokovic brings it when it matters, I hope he beats Emerson's AO record, Melbourne is Novak's 2nd home like Paris is Nadal's 2nd home. So good on him and congrats to his fans.

As for Andy, as a fan I can say he's had a great tournament but yet again it's the same old story, positive play then back to how things where with the swearing but this time I don't think he cared about the 4th set then after the frosty handshake with Novak, Murray promptly smashed all of his rackets. I thought it would be Novak in 4 but not with any savoury products thrown in.

I don't think Andy was physically tired, he was emotionally spent.

Back to the handshake at the end, I don't know if it was a case of sour grapes from Andy but man that was frosty as hell, they used to be good, solid friends, it didn't look that way to me, I don't know the reason why either as Murray even with his swearing ect, is gracious in defeat. There seems to me that there's no love lost there.

I just HOPE Murray doesn't go through the post-AO hangover like he did in 2010-2011 when he lost to players outside the top hundred at ID and Miami, he's back in the top 4 but the valley between him and Djokovic is there for all to see.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Has Andy been tested with long matches since the back surgery?

Maybe it was that.

Excluding the last 2 sets, I think these past 2 weeks was the best tennis he has ever played.

He may be on an up trend.

 

[RF-18]

Yes, that handshake was a bit cold considering their friendship. They have been good friends since they were 11. But it's tough to loose another AO final.

Murray has a alot to improve, because he lacks that final step to win slams. Djokovic was just too good in the end.

 

[TennisManiac]

Murray had a chance to really go ahead in the begining of the third set but blow his opportunity with a ton of sloppy unforced errors which led to yet another mental breakdown. Typical Murray fashion.

 

[marc45]

Yes, that handshake was a bit cold considering their friendship. They have been good friends since they were 11. But it's tough to loose another AO final.

Murray has a alot to improve, because he lacks that final step to win slams. Djokovic was just too good in the end.

"lose", just for future reference

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Murray definitely had the ability to play Djokovic harder in that fourth set but Nole broke his will somewhat. I'm sure Murray must be annoyed at himself for it. He was losing the war of attrition and 'keeping ground' at the baseline though long before he semi mentally checked out, even when maintaining periods of more accurate shot placement.

 

[Tenez101]

Andy is actually 2-3 against Djokovic in major finals (though Nadal had softened up Djokovic a lot before those wins). So whatever the reason, he is pretty decent against Novak in big matches.

 

[Chanwan]

Murray definitely had the ability to play Djokovic harder in that fourth set but Nole broke his will somewhat. I'm sure Murray must be annoyed at himself for it. He was losing the war of attrition and 'keeping ground' at the baseline though long before he semi mentally checked out, even when maintaining periods of more accurate shot placement.

To me, Murray had the momentum in the third up until midway. Then his forehand suddenly disappeared for about a set (netting a LOT of easy ones and hitting some long) and suddenly he found himself down 1-2, 0-3.

Don't think Djoko played particularly strong in that period, Murray was just god awful. Djoko's best play was in the first half of the first set - 10-0 for winners to start with. Boy was he hitting it crisply.

Overall, two quite good sets of tennis, one somewhat poor and then the bagel.

Andy is actually 2-3 against Djokovic in major finals (though Nadal had softened up Djokovic a lot before those wins). So whatever the reason, he is pretty decent against Novak in big matches.

He is, but he's now 0-4 in the AO. I thought this would be the turnaround tbh, but AO is just Djoko's turf.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Murray stopped rotating and creating enough torque for his higher risk forehand to work consistently. That's what I saw anyway.

Djoker's offence in the first half of set 1 was awesome but his defence was way way better later in the match. His defence was very wearing.

 

[KHSOLO]

Where is Lendln when you need him?

 

[JRAJ1988]

By the by, I can only think what Andy is going through have lost his 4th AO final, it's worse than Ivanišević at Wimbledon but he won it in the end.

He really needs to win at least 1 AO title without Djokovic in the final . Time is running out I fear.

 

[spinovic]

Murray stopped rotating and creating enough torque for his higher risk forehand to work consistently. That's what I saw anyway.

Djoker's offence in the first half of set 1 was awesome but his defence was way way better later in the match. His defence was very wearing.

There is just no way of predicting when that Djokovic will show up. When he does, the outcome is certain no matter the opponent. He has been spotty and erratic in big matches since 2011, but has now delivered in two of the last three slams.

Now, on to the annual "is this the year Novak wins the French" speculation. Once again, I will be rooting for him to complete the career slam.

Disappointing result for Murray in the final, but otherwise it was the best tennis I've seen him play. He needs to maintain the aggressive mentality he showed during this event. I think it will pay off in more success.

 

[ThomasGB]

In the last two sets, nearly all of Murray's shots hit the net. And afterward! Murray looked frosty, even after Novak congratulated him and Kim's wedding (and wished them happiness, and lots of kids), Murray looked stoic.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I'm glad this time no excuse has been lifted by Murray camp so far. Last season I was really tired of reading those. His problem ain't fitness or coach but it's simply the case of he's not that better like part of Tennis community believed.