The match was much closer than many expected as Murray putting up an inspired performance led two sets to one and also several breakpoints in the fifth set before coming up just a little bit short. Novak Djokovic finally edged Andy Murray 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 7-5 in 4 hours and 50 minutes.

Novak Djokovic to meet Rafael Nadal in the finals of Australian Open 2012

The match featured an unusually high number of breaks at 18 as both players attacked their opponent’s serve. The first hour saw both players making a high number of errors but still Djokovic led by one set and 2-0, 30-0 on Murray’s serve and even had break point for 3-0. At one stage during the second set Novak Djokovic had hit only 10 winners as opposed to 29 unforced errors for the match.  But Murray kept his cool and came up with 4 games in a row to lead 4-2 in second set. Djokovic broke back to 3-4. In the next game the two players exchanged rallies that lasted 41 and 28 shots with Murray finally breaking through to 5-3. Serving for the set, Murray fell behind 15-40 but recovered to close out the set.

In the third set, Murray appeared the stronger player and went up a break at 2-1 but couldn’t maintain the lead. Suddenly at 4-5 he found himself facing set points three times, Murray came up with the goods- An ace, blistering forehand winner, wonderful drop shot. With the momentum, Murray broke serve and served for the set at 6-5 but a double fault and backhand error took the set to a tie breaker. Murray went up mini break twice but Djokovic fought back to level at 3-3. Murray then hit a wonderful forehand cross court winner after a Djokovic error to gain 3 set points at 6-3. Djokovic saved one but Murray hit a big serve to win the set.

Murray had a letdown in the fourth set and lost it 6-1. The fifth set too seemed to go the same way when Djokovic went up 5-2. Djokovic served for the match at 5-3 but Murray fought back breaking him at love with some aggressive tennis. At 5-5 in the final set, Murray then had 2 break points to serve for the match but Djokovic came up with brilliant shots to save them. Murray missed one more with a weak backhand into net. That proved to be decisive as Djokovic held and then had 2 break points of his own the next game-They were also match points as Djokovic had the advantage of serving first in the final set. Djokovic only needed one as he rushed to the net to volley on e just out of Murray’s reach to close out the match.  After the match Djokovic said that only a few points separated them while Murray said that he was proud of the way he fought. Djokovic added, “I think this was one of the longest, if not the longest, that I’ve played in the later stages of a Grand Slam. I have to be satisfied. I have to be happy.”

The women’s doubles title was won by a last minute pairing Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva who were playing their first Grand Slam doubles final as a pair, but their experience prevailed as they won  5-7 6-4 6-3 over Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

The unseeded Russian pair of Kuznetsova and Zvonareva fought back after losing the first set to win in three sets. Both the Russians are successful singles players with Kuznetsova having won 2 grand slam singles titles and has also partnered with legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova in the past.