Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic live
Hit F5 or tick the autorefresh option for the latest updates
Email katy.murrells@guardian.co.uk with your Murray mania
Follow Guardian Sport on Twitter
*Murray 4-6 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Not that I'm trying to be pessimistic or anything, but that means Murray still hasn't won a set in a grand slam final. That's seven in a row he's lost now. On a more positive note, he lost the first set against David Ferrer in the semis and came back magnificently. But he needs to up his serve percentage - it's down at just 44. Djokovic gets the second set under way by holding to love.
Djokovic wins the first set 6-4
Maybe Murray should have stuck with the old one. He doubles to go 0-15 down, but responds well to take the next point. A war of attrition at 15-all, which Djokovic takes by stepping into court and nailing a forehand past Murray's backhand wing. 15-30. Dangerous times. An ever bigger war of attrition, 38 shots, 15-40. Two set points to Djokovic. And he needs just one, as Murray fires a fraction long. The appeal to Hawk-Eye is in vain.
*Murray 4-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Thwack. Take that. Djokovic thunders a cross-court forehand, ensuring Murray will have to serve to stay in the set. Though I was more busy laughing at Paul Bacon's email. "Isn't that Sue Sylvester, bottom right?" And you'll be relieved to know Murray's rackets have returned.
Murray 4-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Murray is having a bit of a funk about his rackets. Apparently he sent two to be restrung early on and they haven't yet returned. He'd have you believe it's the umpire's fault. But he manages to keep his focus and despite giving Djokovic a glimmer at 30-15, levels up again.
*Murray 3-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A big swipe of the forehand t! akes Djo kovic to 30-0. He should really make it 40-0 but dumps a low volley into the net. Cue Gary Naylor. "Much praise for Murray's backhand pass (see game four) with the commentators saying that Djokovic did nothing wrong, but he did. Because so few players are happy at the net these days, they just jog up the court and get stuck about the service box line instead of being right at the net. That's where Edberg, McEnroe and others would play, not half-court like an amateur." Djokovic's movement to the net is definitely not his strong point - and drawing the Serb in is a tactic that should serve Murray well. Djokovic holds to 15, by the way.
Murray 3-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
An untidy game from Djokovic allows Murray to hold to 15. "No idea who all those Team Murray people are," says Mike Hopkin. "But I couldn't help noticing the ones who've missed out on the free adidas clobber seem markedly more nonplussed than the others."
*Murray 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
At 30-0, it's Djokovic's turn to fluff an overhead as he slaps his smash into the net. That's the only blot for the Serb in the game, though. And the BBC offers what will probably be the first of many apologies for Murray's "colourful" language. He then has an exchange with the umpire at the changeover, not quite sure what about, though Murray tells Jake Garner to "RELAX, RELAX."
Murray 2-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
A more comfortable hold for Murray, to 15, the highlight a backhand winner on the run at 30-15. But these rallies are brutal. Peter Hall proffers his photo suggestions. "Is it 1. Sneezy, 2. Sleepy, 3. Dopey, 4. Doc, 5. Happy, 6. Bashful and 7. Grumpy?" he asks.
*Murray 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A glimmer of opportunity for Murray at 15-30, but he mis-times an overhead which loops long. 30-all. The duo exchange an unforced error apiece to take it to another deuce. At advantage Djokovic, Murray thinks he's hi! t a winn er but it's called out, before being over-ruled by the umpire. They'll replay the point. Murray mutters to himself. And then nets. 25 minutes for the first three games. You don't have anywhere to get to, do you?
Murray 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
What a start from Djokovic. Some amazing defence gets him to 0-15. Then he absolutely wallops a forehand down the line for a clean winner. Murray recovers but the game goes to deuce. And deuce. And deuce. And deuce. And deuce. After fending off one break point, and missing several opportunities at advantage, Murray finally holds after what I count as 15 minutes. A vital hold, even so early on in the contest. But Murray needs to get some cheaper points.
*Murray 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic wins a cheap first point and Murray nets after a longer exchange to make it 30-0. Murray's return then sails well wide to make it 40-0 and Djokovic fires a forehand down the line which Murray can't get back into play. The Serb opens up to love. Meanwhile Gary Naylor also comes up short in the Team Murray teaser. "Not sure of many of the faces in the Murray's Puff Daddy-esque entourage, but I think that's Dinara Safina in the top row." Not sure if Caroline Wozniacki will be too happy with you for saying that ...
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump the players are warming up, Murray is once again looking radioactive in his garish green ensemble, Djokovic is more understated in white and blue and has a little bandage on his left knee. Djokovic will serve first. Right, here goes ...
The players are out on court. Despite the kilted Scottish contingent, it has to be said the Serbs are in slightly stronger voice as Djokovic arrives to a boistrous "Nole, Nole, Nole."
The pre-match interviews Murray: "It'll be a long match probably and I'm really looking forward to it." Djokovic: "I've been playing really well in my last few matches and hopefull! y I can have another one." Take from that what you will.
The photo challenge. "Easy," declares Ulla Roberts. "Middle row left is his partner, sitting next to coach, dad and mum. The front row are his fitness coach, his aggression coach, his sparring partner and his psychologist. The gang at the back are assorted hangers-on." Hmm. We'll give you 1.5/12 for that.
Acutally talking of heat, this from Judy Murray on Twitter: "A rather elderly lady has stopped me and said 'We are praying that Tim will win.' Clearly been out in the sun too long." What, Tim's not playing? Oh, there he is in the BBC studio with Boris Becker.
Even though it's 7.20 in the evening in Melbourne, it's still well above 30C. Who does it favour? Probably Djokovic in terms of the quicker conditions, but from a physical point of view, Murray will be the stronger. By the way, there are a few Scots in the crowd wearing kilts. In 30 plus degree heat.
So what does Murray need to do? The key will be to get off to a good start. In his previous two slam finals he started rather nervously and never really recovered. Both players love to defend there'll be plenty of punishing rallies but Djokovic has just a bit more power. Murray needs to take a few risks and come into the net. He would also do well to draw Djokovic into the net, which isn't the Serb's strong point. And of course Murray must serve well and get as many cheap points on the first serve as possible.
Prediction time
The Guardian's (extremely unscientific) straw poll of experts produced the following results:
In Murray's corner: Rod Laver, Tim Henman, Jeremy Bates and Sven Groeneveld.
In Djokovic's corner: Henri Leconte, Pat Cash, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and Darren Cahill.
And sitting on the fence: Caroline Wozniacki and John Lloyd.
My (extremely scientific) opinion is that, before the semi-finals, I would probably have rated it 50:50. But given Djokovic! 's displ ay against Federer, I'd put it about 60:40 in the Serb's favour.
On the subject of head-to-heads, these two friends go back a long way, having first met as juniors when they were 13. Djokovic remembers Murray as having "big hair" and finding his Scottish accent difficult to understand. Murray, meanwhile, remembers the score. "I won 6-0, 6-1 maybe."
Fast forward to the senior circuit and although Djokovic has the slight edge in their match-up, Murray has prevailed on the last three occasions, all on hard courts. They've never actually played each other in a grand slam before and this will be their first meeting at any level since the Miami final in April 2009.
Tale of the tape (well, we do it for boxing, right?)
Murray-Djokovic
23 Age 23
5 World ranking 3
6ft 3 in Height 6 ft 2 in
13st 3lb Weight 12st 8lb
16 Career titles 18
0 Grand slam titles (need we say) 1
3 Grand slam finals 4
3 Wins in past meetings 4
It all gets going at 8.30am GMT, by the way.
Right, so this is it isn't it? Without the long shadow of Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal looming over him from the other side of the net, surely the time has come for Andy Murray to shake that Fred Perry-sized monkey off his back? With the top two seeds battered and beaten, he's never going to get a better chance, is he? Third time lucky in a grand slam final and all that.
Except Djokovic has the look of a man who senses this is his moment as well. He's been waiting three years to graduate from the group of one-timers to the company of multiple grand slam champions. He's grown up, both on and off the court. And he was good against Federer in the semi-finals. Really good.
Comments