Australian Open 2013: Novak Djokovic wins third consecutive AO title, beats Murray in final

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic became the first player in the open era to win three consecutive Australian Open titles with a 6-7 (2) 7-6(3) 6-3 6-2 victory over Andy Murray in the final.  For the first 2 hours and 50 minutes, there were surpisingly no breaks of serve as the pair slugged it out in a typically brutal encounter.  Djokovic had five break points in the first set, but was out-of-sorts in the first set tiebreak, which he lost.  Murray had three break points in the first game of the second set; Murray could not convert and although Djokovic was struggling for form, he hung in like a terrier and took the second set, as he strolled away from 2-2 in the tiebreak when a floating feather upset Murray's rhythm and he threw in a double fault.

Blisters seemed to affect Murray through the final two sets, but it was Djokovic who completely stepped up his game and claimed that crucial first break of the match at 4-3 in the third set.  He never looked back from that moment and cruised the fourth set to take the Australian Open title.  It was a good match with some high quality rallies, but not a great match.  The mens tournament has definitely been better than the womens, but I feel there is a lack of depth in the mens game at the moment with the top four all making the semi-finals.  I think there are a number of players that are pushing to make that breakthrough, but are still some way off the pace.  Hopefully a rejuvunated Rafael Nadal will join the field at Roland Garros...

I correctly predicted the result of the final in my original predictions as I went for Djokovic to beat Murray.  We now move away from Australia; the women will play in Paris and Pattaya City next week, meanwhile the men take a break before the Davis Cup next weekend.  If you have discovered my blog for the first time throughout the Australian Open, I blog throughout the whole year even away from the Grand Slams so please keep reading :-)