It’s hard to reconcile Novak Djokovic’s 100 unforced errors against 14th seed Gilles Simon in the fourth round of the Australian Open to the Djokovic who disposed of world number three Roger Federer and number two Andy Murray to win his sixth title at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic did it tough against Simon in a four-and-a-half hour five-setter, where Simon made only 68 unforced errors.
More Australian Open final:
» Men’s final scorecard
» Is Novak Djokovic invincible?
» Fith time unlucky for Murray
But to this day it’s hard to comprehend how Djokovic could possibly make 100 errors.
It was a vastly different story against Federer with 20 unforced errors in the semi, and Murray with 41 in the final last night.
Djokovic’s 6-1 7-5 7-6 win to claim his sixth Australian Open matched Roy Emerson’s long-standing record, as Djokjovic joined Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg on 11 career Slams.
It was also Djokovic’s 11th win over Murray in 12 meetings; there’s no doubt he has the Scot’s measure.
It looked as though the night would become a nightmare for Murray when the world number one raced to an effortless 5-love lead before clinching the first set 6-1.
Murray won just 15 points. He was so lethargic, one could be forgiven for thinking he had run a marathon immediately before stepping on the court.
It got worse very quickly when Djokovic broke Murray in the opening game of the second set, but Murray broke back for 4-all.
The 11th game was the best and most spine-tingling.
Murray led 40-love on serve, but Djokovic rattled off five straight points to break that included a brilliant 36-shot rally that had the packed house on its feet.
Any chance Murray had of getting back in the match with some command disappeared when he lost it 7-5.
Djokovic again broke in the opening game of the third set, but to Murray’s credit he broke back in the sixth in a set that ended up a tie-breaker.
When Djokovic led 4-1 it was all over bar the shouting and the Serb cruised home 7-3.
The respect between them was more evident at the presentation than on the court.
Said Djokovic – “Tough match, tough luck, you are a great champion, and a great friend”.
Said Murray – “Congratulations Novak, an incredible feat”.
Novak Djokovic has never won the French, despite reaching three finals – Rafael Nadal was too good in 2010 and 2014, with Stan Wawrinka trumping him last year.
With the King of clay Nadal in poor form and injury prone, Roland Garros beckons – and it’s the next on the Slam pecking order.
The Serb has already won three Wimbledons and two US Opens, and he’s definitely good enough to be a rare Grand Slammer, last achieved by Rod Laver in 1964 as an amateur, and 1969 as a professional.
It’s been a long time between Grand Slam drinks.
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