MELBOURNE: Andy Murray will bid to end a tormenting run of three losing Australian Open finals as world number one Novak Djokovic eyes a fifth triumph in Sunday’s decider in Melbourne.

The year’s first major has been a heartbreak Grand Slam for the Scot, but he has given himself another chance to finally break through and add to his Wimbledon and US Open crowns.

To do that the British sixth seed must halt Djokovic’s formidable record on the Melbourne hard-courts where he reigns supreme, is four-from-four in finals and into his fifth title decider in eight years.

Djokovic has beaten Murray in two of his three Australian losses in 2011 and 2013, but the feisty Scot has mastered the Serb in his two major triumphs at the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon.

History also beckons for Murray, who became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years two years ago. He could also become the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1934 to lift the Australian trophy.

It would also be his first under new coach Amelie Mauresmo, with the Scot coming out after his tempestuous semi-final victory over Thomas Berdych to defend their working together.

Murray’s form last year was criticised, with some pundits putting it down to Mauresmo’s influence, but the sixth seed said the pair had barely worked together at all before the end of 2014.

“I feel like I’m playing well again,” Murray said on Saturday. “I think this tournament’s been obviously important for me just because of some of the results I had at the end of last year.

“It shows as well that last year, although it was a tough year, it wasn’t that bad. I feel like things have been going the right direction the last couple months.”

Order has been restored in the Big Four with Murray reaching the final. He could go to No 3, supplanting Rafa Nadal, if he wins. He was No 6 when the tournament began. Djokovic will remain at No 1 and Roger Federer at No 2.

“There was naturally a lot of talk about the change of generation, new players coming in ... that the four guys that you’re referring to will not be the top four anymore,” says seven-time major winner Djokovic.

“So I still think that [these] four guys still have the best chances to win all the Grand Slam titles.”

Djokovic didn’t drop a set through his first five matches, beating the likes of Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Muller and Milos Raonic before needing five sets to beat defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals.

Djokovic is bidding for his eighth Grand Slam title and has a superior 15-8 career record over Murray.

“There’s no clear favourite. But ... the record I have in finals against him here in Australia, we played couple times, can serve maybe as a slight mental edge,” Djokovic said. “But not much.”

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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