Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray in straight sets to win Australian Open

By Liam Coleman

A telling thing happened in the sixth game of Andy Murray's Australian open final against Novak Djokovic: Murray hit a winner.

That may not seem particularly significant but due to the irresistible returning capabilities of the Serb, this was the first time Murray had hit a ball that his opponent couldn't get to.

Murray never really recovered from this meek opening and the world number one, Djokovic, was his typically faultless self as he secured a sixth Australian open title by seeing off the world number two 6-1, 7-5, 7-6.

It was clear straight away that returning was going to be the name of the game. Both Murray and Djokovic had break points in their opponent's opening service game.

While Murray was unable to take the one offered his way, Djokovic was clinical with his opportunity.

It was a tough start for the British number one and Djokovic swiftly capitalised to take the opening set 6-1 in just half an hour.

Murray found a foothold in the second set though. As a result Djokovic did not show the same level of dominance as he had against Roger Federer in the remarkable opening two sets of the pair's semi-final clash.

Murray's new found character was epitomised by a significant 12 minute service game for the Brit at 1-1 in the second set. The world number two lost several points that he should have put away, but responded with an ace on nigh on every occasion and snuffed out a total of four Djokovic break points.

A much easier hold followed as Murray embraced an attacking style. He secured the crowd's support after winning a remarkable rally that saw both players go both to the net and to the depths of the court far beyond the baseline. The Brit had now realised that he was never going to beat Djokovic at the defensive game.

This attacking style gave Murray a total of 21 winners in the second set to Djokovic's eight, but it was still not enough for the British number one to level up the scores. He surrendered his serve after being 40-0 up at 5-5 and Djokovic held his nerve to take a two set lead.

Losing a set as draining as the 80 minute second set is going to demoralise you and Murray's body language was noticeably more negative as the players came out for the third set. That coupled with Djokovic playing a remarkable line licking winner from far beyond the baseline gave the Serb an early break in the third set.

Was this the beginning of the end for Murray? No chance. After a couple of missed break points, Murray drew level in the third set and took Djokovic to a tiebreak.

Yet Djokovic never seems to feel scoreboard pressure and this match was no different as an ace down the middle gave him victory in the third set tiebreak and the match.

By securing a sixth Australian open title, Djokovic moves level with the legendary Roy Emerson for grand slam victories down under. For Murray, 2016 must be feeling a little bit like 2015: Djokovic still has the beating of him in Grand Slams and the Brit doesn't seem to have any answers to the Serb's faultless returning game.