MELBOURNE, Australia — In his five previous Australian Open titles, Novak Djokovic had never felt so much love.
After maintaining his perfect record in six finals at Melbourne Park — and extending old friend Andy Murray’s streak to five losses from five championship deciders Down Under — Djokovic had hundreds of Serbian fans singing and chanting his name so loudly, he could barely hear questions during a TV interview.
While Djokovic was still celebrating his 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) victory Sunday night, equaling Roy Emerson’s record of six Australian Open titles, Murray was rushing to the airport to catch a flight back to Great Britain to reunite with his pregnant wife.
“I never experienced this much crowd and this much love,” Djokovic said. “I’ve had the fortune to win this trophy now six times, but I never experienced such support.”
Djokovic has won the past three Grand Slam tournament titles, and four of the past five, lifting his career total to 11 — equaling Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg for fifth place on the all-time list.
“I don’t take anything for granted, even though I won the last four out of five Grand Slams, played five finals, it’s phenomenal,” said Djokovic, reflecting on a period of time in which he was married, became a father and lost only one match in five major championships — the final of the French Open. “No doubt that I’m playing the best tennis of my life in the last 15 months.”
His next objective is a Grand Slam title on clay to complete his collection. He has played in three finals at Roland Garros but hasn’t won the French Open.
Murray had his share of distractions in Australia. His wife, Kim, is due to have their first child this month and didn’t travel with him. Kim’s father, Nigel Sears, was in Australia as Ana Ivanovic’s coach but became ill and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance while Murray was playing his third-round match. After a night in the hospital, Sears was well enough to return home. That meant Murray could stay in Australia and try to refocus on winning the title.
“It’s been a tough few weeks for me away from the court,” Murray said after losing to the top-ranked Djokovic.
Murray became only the second man to lose five title matches at one major — Ivan Lendl lost five and won three U.S. Open finals in the 1980s.
Djokovic had won 10 of his previous 11 matches against Murray and was 21-9 in their career meetings — including four finals at the Australian Open.
Again, he was just too good.
Djokovic broke Murray twice in a 30-minute opening set, twice again in the second and once in the third, and only had his serve broken twice.
Djokovic took a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker, setting up five championship points, and finished it with an ace in 2 hours, 53 minutes.