(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic has defeated Andy Murray of Britain in four sets to claim the Australian Open men's singles final at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic, the world's top male player, has now secured his fifth Australian Open title, and his eighth Grand Slam victory overall.
Kristina Kukolja has more.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
The match was briefly interrupted by a group of activists, at least one of whom managed to get on court, while the others unfolded a banner in support of refugees and calling for the closure of the Manus Island immigration detention centre.
Despite the disruption, it took four sets and over three hours for Novak Djokovic to yet again deny his friend, and world number six, Andy Murray a championship victory in Melbourne.
Murray had hoped that his fourth attempt at a finals match on Rod Laver Arena would bring him his first Australian Open crown.
And, for a short while there, it looked possible.
The two were neck and neck for the first two sets, both of which went to a tie break, leaving them a set a piece.
Yet the Serb was resurrected in the third set, from which there was no return for either one.
Novak Djokovic is now the most decorated Australian champion in the Open Era, and has consolidated his place as the world's top male tennis player.
But last night's milestone match forced him to confront some physical challenges.
"The length of the rallies and the physicality that we had in the first two sets have taken energy from me. It's normal to expect that you can't always be at your 100 per cent so you go through some particular moments that you can call crisis during the matches like this, and that's what I had in this 15-20 minutes and after that I felt better."
Andy Murray says this was what upset his momentum, even after taking the second set.
Murray says he simply wasn't able to recover.
"The fourth set wasn't as frustrating to me as the third set. This was frustrating because I got a bit distracted when he fell on the ground after a couple of shots and appeared that he was cramping and I let that distract me a little bit. That's what I'm most disappointed about."
The Wimbledon and US Open champion is coached by former Australian Open women's champion Amelie Mauresmo, and says under her watch he's playing close to his best -- even after back surgery in 2013 took him off the tour.
The Murray-Djokovic rivarly dates back to their teens, when the two now 27-year-olds first faced off across court.
Years later, Novak Djokovic notes how he has now played his first major tournament -- in Melbourne -- as a father and husband against the Scot.
"As my life progresses there are circumstances and situations and events that define these beautiful moments, and getting married and becoming a father all in the last six months was definitely something that gave me a new energy, something that I never felt before and right now everything has been going in such a positive direction in my life and I'm so grateful for that."
Share
