This was such a bravura performance by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final that it’s hard to imagine him playing much better.
From the middle of the second set, without a blip or a waver, he was in full flow — fantastic movement and defense along the baseline, strong, penetrating cross-court forehands one after the other, solid firing off the backhand side and minimal mistakes.
But as good as he was in this 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 triumph that sent him to his second Grand Slam title, Andy Murray was equally poor. Hugely, disappointedly poor. Yet let it be said that even if Murray had done all the right things in this match, he would not have won. The Djoker was that good.
Where was Murray’s first serve (53% in for the match)? Where was Murray’s ability to get to net, put pressure on his opponent and end points (just seven trips inside the service line in the first two sets)? Where was the Murrayconsistency that we have come to know (27 winners, 41 unforced errors)?
He might have been hurt, as he several times grimaced or gripped his left hip. But no excuse there. It’s all part of the game, like forehands and backhands. You have to stay fit for seven matches. Djokovic did, Murray didn’t.
And so Murray does not become the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Fred Perry in 1936 and he’ll face the usual assault from the British media after this match and for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the spotlight now shines very brightly on Djokovic, who at 23 appears to have finally matured, and I lean heavily on the word “appears.” With Novak, you’re never quite sure. Let’s see him put together a full season of this kind of play before we go over the top on his successes. He’s been in the Australian Open winner’s circle before, in 2008, but never seized the moment.
He’s remained consistently in the top five for the last three years, but there was never that sense about him that he could become THE major force on tennis’ hardcourts. There would be intermittent physical problems or his head would wander off so badly that he lost his serve.
It’s been well-chronicled how badly he was serving a year ago as he groped for solutions, bringing in former top-10 Todd Martin at one point to get things fixed. Eventually, he decided there were too many voices advising him, called it off with Martin and went with the team that has been in place now for years. At least there was that consistency, but he had to solve the serving problems largely on his own, and he did.
That alone was a key sign of his maturity.
Now, can he maintain this? He will remain at No. 3 in the rankings, though he has lessened the gap between himself and No. 2 Roger Federer. But I don’t think there’s much real debate that at this moment in history, Rafa Nadal is the best player in the world and Djokovic is the second best with Federer third — regardless of what the rankings say.
Djokovic will take some time off, prepare with Serbian teammates to defend the Davis Cup title and head for the U.S. early hardcourt season that will take him to Indian Wells and Key Biscayne — two very important stops.
As for Murray, notwithstanding his left leg problems this fortnight, he’s done an excellent job of steeling himself physically with his off-season workouts in South Florida. But he has to do something about that second serve.
It’s good enough to get by the early rounds of a Slam, but there was a 50 kph dropoff (194 to 154) in his average first and second serve speed. That’s very high, and it explains in large part why Murray won only 31 percent of his second serve points. By comparison, Djokovic won 60 percent of his.
There also are questions about Murray’s big-match nerves. I noted before that he wouldn’t have won this match if he had played 10 times better than he did, but that doesn’t obviate the question about his readiness for this match.
I thought he played on more or less equal terms with Djokovic in the early going, but Djokovic gradually stepped up his play while Murray never countered.
Seven trips to the net in the first two sets and horrible first serving. . .he wasn’t ready to play this final and it leaves you wondering if he ever will be if and when the next chance arrives.
