Slam sunk
Published: 2 hrs ago
IT HURT all-right.
Andy Murray insisted before this morning’s Aussie Open final against Novak Djokovic that it would be painful.
And so it proved.
Painful for Murray. Painful for Brit fans watching here and back at home.
The sight of the Scot’s battered feet at the end of the second set were enough to put everyone off their breakfast for weeks.
PAIR OF ACES ... Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray
Murray was not operating on full gas after that — and against a bloke like Djokovic, a bloke who just never wilts, that’s always asking for trouble.
When a weary-looking US Open champ smacked the ball into the net, the Serb had bagged a historic 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-2 triumph.
He becomes the first man in the Open era to bag three Aussie titles on the spin.
FADING OUT ... Andy Murray watches Novak Djokovic with the trophy
The world No1 ultimately deserved it. He took more risks and was more clinical.
The unforced error count from the now SIX-TIME Slam hero read 61 in total compared to our man's 41.
More risks taken. More winners — 47 to 29 — bagged.
But Murray will know the way he was moving around the court meant there was no way back.
Weeping ... Murray's painful blister
The first set lasted a whopping 68 minutes. It was tense. It was gripping.
Neither player was giving an inch.
The Murray fighting spirit was on show early on — the Brit saving four break points at 3-2 to keep it level.
The world No3 was at it again at 3-4 but this had tie-break written all over it.
In the semi-final win over Roger Federer, Murray made a mess of the deciders.
Padding ... Scot is patched up
But he was on fire here, storming 6-2 up and when the Serb hit long, the Brit was ahead.
Djokovic looked off. His movement wasn’t as smooth, he looked like he was struggling.
What happened next showed just what the Serbian is all about.
It was just as tight and as we got to 5-4, Murray’s dominance was shown in that in the total points tally, he was ahead 74-62 - a huge difference at that stage.
Another tie-break came along, this time with the roles reversed.
Djokovic took it 7-3.
Game's afoot ... Brit number 1 is bandaged
Game on? One look at Murray’s horribly blistered feet which were attended to by the medics said otherwise.
They were in a right old state. And the grimaces on his face began to get worse.
He was in trouble. And a player like Djokovic doesn’t need a second opportunity to turn the screw and deliver the hammer blows.
Yet as we lurched into the third set, we were still ,amazingly , waiting for the first break.
It came with 2 hours 52 minutes on the clock — and it was Murray who was broken to love.
Djokovic was ahead and it was hard to watch if you were of a Murray persuasion.
There were still flashes of magic — a brilliant half volley which dropped over the net was a highlight — but it was just staving off the inevitable.
Soon enough it was 5-2 and when a tired looking Murray slapped into the net, that was that.
There were no tears from the Brit even if it was his FIFTH defeat in a Slam final.
He knows he belongs now and the rivalry with Djokovic will dominate this year and beyond.
Murray will be back — yet the problem is the Serb will be there, snapping at his heels like the incredible, fearless competitor he is.
