Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in the Australian Open final to win his second Grand Slam championship trophy.

He won his first major title three years ago when he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne. He is the 13th man in the Open Era to win multiple Australian Open titles.

"Davis Cup title and another Grand Slam title. I'm living the dream of a tennis player, definitely," declared Djokovic. "I have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than I have ever been before. To be able to win in straight sets against a player like Andy Murray in the finals of Grand Slam, it makes my success even bigger."


Djokovic, who lost only one set in Melbourne over the last two weeks (including a straight-sets dismissal of Federer in the semi-finals), is now 2-2 in his career Grand Slam finals, while Murray fell to 0-3 and has lost all nine of his sets in those matches.


Only four men have captured major championships since the 2005 Aussie Open, with Federer winning 12, Rafael Nadal claiming nine, Djokovic taking two, and Juan Martin del Potro coming out on top at the 2009 U.S. Open.

Djokovic has now won 19 tour-level titles, with 15 of those trophies coming on hard court – the fourth most hard-court titles among active players.

"This was a great match. From the start to the last point, I did what I intended of doing tactically, what I talked with my coach, what I prepared for," said Djokovic "It's the best way that I could ask for to start a season. Both of those guys [Federer and Murray] play their best tennis on the hard courts, as well as I do. But to be able to win against those players in straight sets is incredible.

"During this tournament I was feeling great on the court," he added. "The Davis Cup win may have a big role in my great performance here in this tournament. After we won Davis Cup title I was feeling great on the court, just eager to compete."

For Murray this was third defeat in three Grand Slam finals. He was beaten by Federer in the 2008 US Open final and Australian Open last year.

"It's better than it was last year," said Murray on his feelings after the match. "It was obviously tough, disappointing. I thought Novak played unbelievably well. It's tough, but got to deal with it. Anyone who played in three finals would have loved to have won one. But I haven't. I just need to keep working hard and try and do it."

Speaking about Murray, whom he has known since they were teenagers, Djokovic commented, "I really have big respect for him and his game, because I think he has everything what it takes to become a Grand Slam champion. I'm sure that very soon he will be."
Murray was trying to give Britain its first men's major titlist in 75 years, when Fred Perry titled at the U.S. Open in 1936. Britain has failed to produce a men's Grand Slam champion in the last 280 major tournaments.

"I would have liked to have played better," confessed Murray. "But I think he would have beaten every other player on the tour if he played like that tonight. He served well. He didn't make many mistakes from the back of the court. He moved really, really well. He hit the ball very clean.

"I look at the tournament as a whole, it was excellent. I don't think anyone would say that reaching a slam final is a bad achievement. It's a very, very good achievement. I'll be very happy with the way the tournament went. But I would have obviously liked to have gone one step further."


(photos/Reuters Pictures, AP Photo)

Novak Djokovic wins second Australian Open title