by Andrew Eichenholz
After Novak Djokovic won his record-setting fifth Australian Open title of the Open Era, Andy Murray rushed over to his chair and broke a racket.
He was in the match playing phenomenal tennis, and he let Djokovic get to his head. Murray knew it, too.
Nevertheless, Djokovic’s 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 win to capture his eight major singles title was anything but easy. The score line may make it look like the 2013 Australian Open final in which Djokovic blitzed Murray after two tiebreak sets, but this time was different.
In the third set, the match was on Murray’s racket. His incredible athleticism and ball striking kept him in a tense second set which he snuck out in a tiebreaker, and all of a sudden, it was taking a toll on Djokovic’s legs.
Two hours and 32 minutes for two sets of tennis is an unreal testament to the level of tennis both Djokovic and Murray were playing at. For lack of a better way to describe it, the first few hours of this major final looked like a video game.
It was Murray’s defense-to-offense that kept Djokovic at bay early in the third set, and the Scot’s seemingly impossible returning that shot him out to a 2-0 lead.
Andy Murray was arguably playing some of the best tennis of his career. Novak was playing his own “A” game, yet was wearing out at the hands of quite simply the better player of the moment.
It only took one game to change that. Looking lethargic, not moving his feet at all compared to his typically fleet afoot self, Djokovic scratched and clawed. He earned the break back. That was all he needed to get into Murray’s head.
Once that happened, it was all over but the games ticking off the scoreboard.
Djokovic drew even in the set, and at 3-3 in the third, Murray had his last chance to hold on. Break point down, Novak carved out a Bryan Brothers-esque backhand drop volley, that Murray somehow tracked down- a testament to his blazing speed and athleticism. Yet, as he attempted to steer a backhand down the line, he clipped the tape.
He was that close to regaining the momentum. He was that close in the match. But, “that close” was not nearly enough against Djokovic.
The new father of son Stefan, watching back home with mother Jelena, saw Murray berating himself over and over for allowing himself to see Djokovic struggling physically.
It bothered Murray. All it did was give Djokovic a second wind. At that point, the two-time Grand Slam champion would need to play his very best, because Djokovic’s “A” game had gone to a whole other level.
Even then, it is hard to say that he could have beaten the world No. 1, but once he saw that a visibly tired Djokovic had more to bring to the table, he could not summon his top tennis.
So, in a match that after a couple of sets was destined for a five set, possibly six hour marathon, Djokovic came out in only 3 hours and 39 minutes.
Only is a strong word, but it still showed a couple of things.
Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player in the world, but Andy Murray, who many expected would never be the same man who won Wimbledon in 2013, is back, and could be as good as ever.
