Novak Djokovic’s (1) 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 defeat of Andy Murray (2) in the Australian Open final brought the world No.1 his sixth Australian Open title and his 11th overall. The Tennis Review takes a look at how Djokovic proved himself to be the most modern, the mentally toughest, and the most eloquent of champions.
There is something poetic about Novak Djokovic, the most modern of players, making the Australian Open, the most modern of slams, his own. The Australian Open- the first slam to have roofs and which sells tickets to the final online rather than through ballots-is about as modern as a slam gets, and Novak Djokovic is about as modern, game-wise, as they come.
The Serbian has now won six trophies at the ‘Happy Slam’ (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016), and is now the holder of 11 slams in all, tied with legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, which means the Australian Open, like Wimbledon with Sampras and Federer, and Roland Garros with Bjorn Borg and Rafa Nadal, has an all- time Great who has won six or more titles at the event in the Open era.
The Serb has perfected the modern style of tennis that current slower hard court conditions such as Plexicushion on the Rod Laver Arena at night command – an athletic, relentless style which he showcases by running balls down, sending them back with his superb hands wherever he thinks they will serve him best, and then, when he finds himself in the right position, letting loose his brutal, deep and unforgiving ground strokes, particularly on that most modern of stroke, the double-handed backhand, to take control.
Those 21st century qualities were all on display in the first set of the 2016 Australian Open final between the top two seeds. Both Djokovic and Murray are experts of the modern games, but some experts are better than others, and in this contest Djokovic tends to have more answers than the Scot when the rallies go into double digits, his ground-strokes that bit more penetrating, that touch more consistent, and, most crucially, his head much more screwed on (he led Murray 21-9 overall and 4-0 in Melbourne before the match).
That general superiority was seen early on in the first set when Murray failed to covert a break point in the first game- and the modern game is now as much about the return as the serve used to be- only for Djokovic to take his break point chance in the second and convert it. The world No.1 did not look back and wrapped up the first set 6-1 in 33 minutes, continuing where he left off with his defeat of Roger Federer in the semi-finals.
One thing that has not changed about tennis, though, is that the mental side accounts for 80 percent of the game, and the technical side about 20. When Murray’s plan B to hit out began to pay off – the only plan that really stands a chance versus his old rival but which seems to take him a while to adopt- and he stopped feeding Djokovic balls to hit at will, and gave him nothing to work with instead, the Serbian’s level dropped, Murray got him deep into the second set, and it looked like the world No.2 was not just filling up the numbers but was actually challenging for the top spot and the big prizes.
However, though the technical side of things might not have been working for him, Djokovic’s mastery of the mental side of things never faltered, and it was that aspect of the match, that strength of the world No.1, which made the difference.
While the Scot growled and shouted expletives at his box when points did not go his way, despite the fact he was doing much better than many had predicted for him, Djokovic kept calm – you could not tell if he was leading by a set or struggling in the second- and at 5-5, Djokovic went from being at best consistent to being at times brilliant, one backhand down the line on the run winner will go down as one of the shots of the fortnight, notably on the big points. The world No.1 took control of the game from Murray, who led 40-0, breaking Murray and his spirit to take the set 7-5 in 80 minutes.
Djokovic had done what he does so well the past couple of years- he had ridden out his rival’s purple patch, kept himself in it, and then hit another gear when the chance came. He went with the momentum in the third, breaking Murray for 2-0, and looked to be in cruise control.
Djokovic, however, though it seems otherwise at times, is not perfect, and, as we saw in his previous matches versus Simon and Nishikori he is vulnerable to his opponent’s level, so when Murray began to spray more errors, especially on the forehand as he pulled the trigger way too early way too often, Djokovic made more errors, too (both men would end the match with more errors than winners- Djokovic with 31-43, and Murray with 40-65). The Scot broke back, the match got as messy as they get with these two, and Murray stayed with the defending champion until the tiebreak.
The first two points of the breaker symbolized the general play and purpose of both these men, one of them trying to extend his record of Open era titles in Melbourne to six, the other trying to put an end to a run of four losing finals – Murray opened with a double fault while Djokovic started his serving account with an ace for 2-0.
That was all Djokovic needed to take control and he flew through the breaker, helped along by another Murray double-fault. At 6-3 and serving on his third championship point, Djokovic ended the breaker as he started it, sending down another ace, joining Roy Emerson at six Australian Opens, and breaking his own Open era record.
As if being the best player in the world, and the most decorated player at a slam was not enough, Djokovic then showed us what a great ambassador he was for the sport, giving an eloquent trophy acceptance speech that paid tribute to all the qualities that made him and the Australian Open the best in the modern business of tennis- hard work, purpose, and, most of all, a passion for the sport to get up everyday and give your very best. Djokovic, like his favorite slam, not only gives it- they live it, too.
What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments box below.
thetennisreview 
Leave a comment