AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2016: NOVAK DJOKOVIC FLOORS ANDY MURRAY TO CLAIM HISTORIC TITLE

Australian Open 2016: Novak Djokovic floors Andy Murray to win historic title

Indeed, Djokovic is a notch above his nearest rivals and he drummed that home Sunday by cruising past Andy Murray 6-1 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in the Australian Open final.

When Roger Federer dominated men's tennis a decade ago, few would have predicted that another player would come along in the same era and replicate the Swiss' achievements.

But Novak Djokovic is doing just that.

Without any ounce of doubt, the Djokovic of today is a superior player and his recent record against the top-10 proves it -- a remarkable 50-6 in his last 56 encounters. He has won 11 of his last 12 against Murray, nine of his last 10 against Rafael Nadal and six of his last eight against Federer, including Thursday's semifinal at the Australian Open when Djokovic ruthlessly dispatched the 17-time grand slam champion.

Meanwhile,  Andy Murray entered the event knowing his wife Kim Sears was eight months pregnant with their first child and then his father-in-law Nigel Sears -- who coaches women's player Ana Ivanovic -- collapsed while Murray competed on an adjacent court a week ago. Thankfully Sears was well enough to return to the UK.

Murray considered pulling out of the year's first major but stuck it out. 

He endured draining encounters against David Ferrer in the quarterfinals and Milos Raonic in the semis Friday. 

Murray said: "A lot's been going on, I started the last couple of matches quite slowly, understandable in some respects. 

"But I'm proud of the way I fought and managed to get myself back into the" final and "create chances for myself."

 

Normally taking at least an hour to attend his briefing with reporters, Murray hurried into his press conference because he had a plane to catch Monday at 1 a.m. Melbourne time. 

"I'm proud that I got into this position," he said. "Just quite looking forward to getting home now." 

Source: CNN

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