Australian Open 2015: Day 14 Results, Highlights and Scores Recap from Melbourne
In what became a classic war of attrition, Novak Djokovic beat a sensational Andy Murray to take the Australian Open men's singles title in Melbourne.
The Serbian master won the match 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0 in a gruelling battle
In the day's other match, Martina Hingis became a Grand Slam champion once again as she and India's Leander Paes won the mixed doubles crown against Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor.
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Here is a roundup of Sunday's play:
| Novak Djokovic (1) | 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0 | Andy Murray (6) |
| Martina Hingis/Leander Paes (7) | 6-4, 6-3 | Kristina Mladenovic/Daniel Nestor (3) |
Novak Powers Through Against Murray
Murray's path to the final showed how he has nearly found his top game once again, but he met his match against world No. 1 Djokovic.
The Serb killed the match off in the closing stages as Murray faded, winning the final set 6-0.
Djokovic had taken the first set after a fantastic tiebreaker, but his British opponent traded blows and claimed the second, also through the tiebreak.
Djokovic seemed to have suffered a couple of knocks during the exchanges, appearing to twist an ankle, but the Serbian machine stayed in check and continued to go toe-to-toe with his opponent.
But the match swung favourably in the No. 1 seed's favour in the third set, and he did not look back, outlasting Murray in an absorbing encounter that took plenty out of both men.
In the fourth, Djokovic raced to a 4-0 lead as Murray collapsed physically, losing his discipline and allowing the favourite to get a stranglehold on the title.
Former British star Greg Rusedski commented about the swing to Djokovic late in the match, with presenter Georgie Bingham saying the Scot was missing his former coach:
In the end, Murray could not live with Djokovic's powers of endurance, and his meltdown late in the day will disappoint the former Wimbledon champion.
However, there were plenty of positives for the beaten Brit. Murray was not expected to perform at such a high level so early in the season following issues with his back, but he is back in the mix for the biggest prizes in the sport.
Djokovic hit 53 winners during the match, and he won 136 points compared to Murray's 118, per AusOpen.com.
The stats show show how close this affair was for long periods, but Murray lost his way, and Djokovic put him convincingly to the sword.
Grand Slam Joy for Returning Martina Hingis
Hingis claimed her first Grand Slam success in nine years as she grabbed the Aussie Open mixed doubles crown with partner Leander Paes.
The 34-year-old former women's No. 1 returned to the world tour in 2013 to play doubles tennis after her retirement from the sport six years prior. Hingis and Paes took the prize comfortably against Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor, winning 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour.
Hingis has great memories of the Australian Open as a three-time women's singles winner, per The Associated Press via ESPN, but the victory with Paes sees her return to the champion's podium for the first time in many years.
The Associated Press via the Daily Mail quoted Hingis after her joint success, with the former queen of the sport saying:
"In the ceremony my voice became a little [emotional]. After 20 years [and] being back on that court, like I said in my speech, who would have thought?
It's not even like the cherry on top, it's more than that to be there and to be able to hold another trophy with Leander. It's more than I could ever dream of.
"
Hingis also spoke about her great relationship with 15-time Grand Slam champion Paes, with the veteran partnership going from strength to strength, per The Associated Press:
"It's not only the fact that we won, but we just feel really comfortable with one another to go out there. Right now it does feel a little bit invincible, especially on the hard courts because we just really fulfil each other.
"
Hingis and Paes dominated throughout leaving their opponents always one step behind their pace.
The champions converted 71 percent of break points against Mladenovic and Nestor, per AusOpen.com, and ran out deserving winners.
Hingis and Paes are likely to continue their blossoming partnership and may well dominate the mixed game over the next year. They have a chemistry which is unmatched at present, and more silverware appears to be in the couple's immediate future.
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