Hail King Novak!

02 February 2015 - 02:06 By Greg Stutchbury, Reuters
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FOR THE RECORD: Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to claim his fifth Australian Open title in Melbourne, Australia yesterday. Djokovic himself set a record for most Australian Open titles in the Open era, one behind Roy Emerson
FOR THE RECORD: Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to claim his fifth Australian Open title in Melbourne, Australia yesterday. Djokovic himself set a record for most Australian Open titles in the Open era, one behind Roy Emerson
Image: JOE CASTRO/EPA

Novak Djokovic may have garnered a reputation as the crown prince of pranksters in tennis but yesterday he firmly established him as the king of Melbourne's blue hard courts with his fifth Australian Open title.

The 27-year-old Serb clinched his fourth title in five years, and eighth Grand Slam overall, with the 7-6 (5) 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-0 victory over Andy Murray - the Scot's fourth loss in as many Melbourne finals.

Three of those have been at the hands of Djokovic, while he also lost to Roger Federer in 2010.

Since Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 he has compiled a 47-3 record in Melbourne - a record for most Australian Open titles in the Open era, one behind Australia's Roy Emerson who dominated in the 1960s.

"I'm so privileged and grateful to be standing here as a champion for the fifth time," he said after Emerson presented him with the trophy. "To be in the elite group of players, with Roy Emerson as well. It is an honour playing in front of you."

Despite Murray's poor record against the Serb - he has lost seven of their past eight encounters - he had arguably entered the final as a slight favourite.

Djokovic had struggled in his semifinal against defending champion Stan Wawrinka, while Murray had played superb back-to-back matches to beat Grigor Dimitrov and then Tomas Berdych in a tempestuous semifinal.

Murray's celebrations in the victory over Berdych highlighted the raging competitiveness that exists inside the 27-year-old boxing fan as he repeatedly mimicked punching an imaginary opponent.

Fittingly, Murray and Djokovic were involved in a tense boxing match yesterday, examining each other for any weakness, landing a body blow or counter punching as they scrambled to stay alive.

Several times, Murray had a limping and puffing Djokovic wobbling and down on one knee, ready to be finished off and he knew it. But the knockout blow never came.

By the end of the third set, Murray's frustrations boiled over as he slammed his racquet.

The fight appeared gone from Murray and when Djokovic jumped to a 3-0 lead in the fourth, he buried his head beneath a towel, and then metaphorically threw it in to meekly surrender. "It has been probably my most consistent Grand Slam and I just haven't been able to win," Murray said.

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