Djokovic kisses the blue turf at the Rod Laver Arena and the crowd stands up and applauds an incredible performance by the Serbian, who is playing some exquisite tennis. Though, Djokovic defeated Murray in the finals of the 2016 Australian Open, the Serbian's performance was top class throughout the competition.
Djokovic, who was only tested by Gilles Simon in the fourth round, after having defeated players such as Roger Federer and Murray with such ease, deserved to win the title. The world number one has also gone on to equal legendary Roy Emerson's record of six Australian Open titles.
With the Serbain yet to hit 30, he should beat Emerson's record in the near future.
That is it from me, folks.
5:09: Djokovic gets off to a brilliant start in the tie-breaker as he takes an important 4-0 lead before Murray clinches a point to make it 3-1. Djokovic is running away with the game as Murray crumbles under pressure, doubles faults, while Djokovic sends a pefect serve next to inch closer to the title, takes 5-1 lead. Murray seems to be clawing back with two terrific serves, however, Djokovic, when it matters, delivers an amazing ace to lift the title.
Djokovic wins the 2016 Australian Open title 6-1, 7-5 and 7-6.
5:04: Classic. Djokovic holds on to his serve, which has been one of his major asset in the final. His ace down the T was inch perfect. With Murray hitting the ball wide, the set will be decided via a tie-break, which was on the cards with neither players giving an inch to the other.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 6-6.
4:59: Bring it on. The Scot serves beautifully to clinch the game, and comes closer to the elusive set victory. Apart from the quality baseline game, it was his first serves, which helped him dominate Djokovic.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 5-6.
4:55: Man, both these players are playing some strong game from the baseline. This set is getting mighty close as the Serbian delivers a perfect game to hold serve.
Now it is a matter of nerves for the world number two, who looks desperate to take the game to the fourth set. Can he?
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 5-5.
4:50: Murray comes up with a brilliant service game, including some deadly groundstrokes, as he takes the all important lead in the set, 5-4. The crowd cheers for the underdog - Murray.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 4-5.
4:45 pm : There seems to be an air of confidence in Murray's camp, finally. But how long will that last? Not long. Murray, who could have taken a crucial lead in the set, has faltered when it mattered most. The Scot's unforced errors in the game could cost him the match.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 4-4.
4:42 pm: Andy Murray is back, seems to be, as he is playing some quality tennis. The game witnesses both the players being involved in some great strokeplay from the baseline, which is well appreciated by the full crowd at the Rod Laver Arena. Murray takes a set lead as Djokovic overhits the ball. These are positive signs for the Scot.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 3-4.
That's it from me Deepak Vikraman, Ashim Sunam will take you through to the end.
4.34 pm: Murray is trying to hang on here, and he gets a break point off a bit of a luck via a net cord. But Djokovic gets that perfect one-two out with a wide serve and putaway to bring it to deuce. Murray, though, shows some of that Murray for finally with a beautifully constructed point, which had Djokovic moving both ways finished off with a smash. Djokovic fires long and Murray has the break back.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 3-3.
4.28 pm: A game that could have gone either way, but a net cord that just drops the right side in Murray's case, paves the way for a hold.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 3-2.
4.22 pm: Murray does well to ight back into to the game and force a break point. But then those errors creep in again and Djokovic holds.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 3-1.
4.15 pm: A 15-30 hole Murray finds himself in again, but pulls it back to 30-30, and then 40-30 with a nice deep forehand. Djokovic fires a shot long and Murray has his first game of this set.
Djokivic 6-1, 7-5, 2-1.
4.12 pm: An easy hold and just like that it is already 2-0 in the third set.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 2-0.
4.10 pm: Murray looks like he has almost given up here as he gives Djokovic two break points with a missed smash. Djokovic gets it at the second time of asking, with a wonderful backhand around the net, that just clips the line.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5, 1-0.
4.02 pm: Two double faults in a row gives Murray a break point, but again, another error hands Djokovic an easy point. The world number one goes to advantage via another Murray error, and a third one, gives Djokovic the second set.
Djokovic 6-1, 7-5.
3.57 pm: Nole continues to wear Murray down, with those long, long rallies. Rarely puts a foot wrong in those does the champion, and Murray cannot find the patience to stay with him, going for too much, too early. From 40-15, it goes to advantage Djokovic, and after another long rally, which ends with Murray firing a backhand long, Djokovic gets the game and will now serve for the second set.
Djokovic 6-1, 6-5 Murray.
3.49 pm: Had an opening Murray at 15-30, but Djokovic runs in three straight points to level the second set.
Djokovic 6-1, 5-5 Murray.
3.45 pm: A couple of strong serves gives Murray a 30-0 lead and then that errant forehand again brings Djokovic back into the game. It quickly becomes 30-40, but Murray takes it to deuce with a nice serve down the T. A return from Djokovic off a nothing serve that goes long gives Murray a game point, and after a few thumps from the baseline, Murray loses patience again and fires a backhand into the net.
Needs to be more patient in these rallies does Murray, who gets another game point with an ace, before hitting another backhand long. No consistency at all from the Brit, who gives Djokovic a break point with a poor, poor forehand that goes miles long. Returns with a ripper of a backhand, though, which Djokovic can do nothing about and it is deuce again. More consistency and Murray could win the second set here, but he just cannot find that rhythm.
Worls the point really well does Murray, in and around and down the line and crosscourt, and he finally finishes Djokovic off with a beautiful crosscourt backhand. Game point goes to Murray, as Djokovic hits the net.
Djokovic 6-1, 4-5 Murray.
3.33 pm: Murray breaks right back. Finally finding his range, and even if there were a couple of errors again, Murray gets the break back with a nice backhand crosscourt, which just skims the line.
Djokovic 6-1, 4-4 Murray.
3.28 pm: A couple of nicely-contructed points from Murray points to the fact that he might be slowly getting back into it; however, those errors keep haunting him, and without having to do too much, Djokovic has a break point at 30-40. A good deep return puts him in control of the rally, and a Murray forehand long gives him the break.
Djokovic 6-1, 4-3 Murray.
3.23 pm: A 21-shot rally to open up the game, won by Djokovic, or rather thrown away by Murray. Murray wins the next two points, and Djokovic shows signs of frustration for the first time in the match, smashes the ball high, which then makes the crowd pull out a few boos. Murray throws away the advantage again with a couple of errors, one each off his backhand and forehand. Djokovic sticks the serve down the T on game point, but Murray digs out a solid return and goes on to win the point to take it to deuce. Plays an outstanding point next, but Murray again fluffs his lines, missing a simple putaway volley, which would have given him a break point. Brings it back to deuce again does Murray with a nice excgange of backhands at the baseline, which eventually sees Djokovic fire one wide. Can't run away from the errors can Murray as another one, this time off a slice backhand goes long. A solid point after that gives Djokovic the game.
Djokovic 6-1, 3-3 Murray
3.13 pm: A couple of good serves and Murray has a 40-15 lead. And then we have the best point of the match so far. A drop shot from Murray brings Djokovic into the net, with the Serbian putting a lob in, which Murray gets to. Djokovic does not hit his smash right and that allows Murray to produce a marvellous passing shot crosscourt.
Djokovic 6-1, 2-3 Murray.
3.11 pm: Murray misses an opportunity to go 0-30 up by hitting a return off a short second serve wide and from there Djokovic does not skip a beat.
Djokovic 6-1, 2-2 Murray.
3.08 pm: Was in a spot of bother again was Murray, but a nice wide serve gets him out of trouble and into 40-30. Cannot get the first serve in at game point, though, and Djokovic punishes him for that, with a nice return followed by a deep forehand whuch Murray can only return wide. Murray needs some luck right about now and he gets it next point as a net cord gives him another game point, but that is thrown away with a forehand into the net. Murray is clearly nowhere near the top of his game here, but then that is what Djokovic does to his opponents; time and time again. Murray decides to change things up by coming into the net next point, but Djokovic has the answer with a stunning backhand crosscourt pass. What a shot that was.
Murray gets out of trouble with a good first serve to take it back to deuce, but then throws it away again with another poor forehand. After a bit of back and forth baseline tennis, Djokovic blinks first on break point, with a forehand that goes wide. Murray does Djokovic a favour again with another forehand that goes into the net, man oh man, how many of those have there been already. Third break point for Djokovic is saved a thid time by Murray. Another second serve, another longish rally another error from Murray, another break point for Djokovic. This time it is saved with an ace down the T. Gets a game point finally as Djokovic hits a backhand into the net, before getting the game with another ace down the T. Big win that for Murray.
Djokovic 6-1, 1-2 Murray.
2.53 pm: A shot that just goes wide, a nice deep hit followed by a simple volley and a backhand error from Murray into the net gives Djokovic a 40-0 lead. Follows that up with a backhand long, though, but a perfect wide serve next up gives him the game.
Djokovic 6-1, 1-1 Murray
2.50 pm: Murray needed a hold in this firat game to get the second set off to a better start, and after a 30-0 start, Djokovic comes back with a couple of good shots, one down the line and the other onto the toes of Murray as he came in, to make it 30-30. However, a good first serve means Djokovic hits the return wide and Murray had game point at 40-30. A nice second serve gives him that point.
Djokovic 6-1, 0-1 Murray
2.44 pm: Doesn't matter, though, as Djokovic holds to take the first set 6-1. Djokovic gets to his set point with a delightful drop shot and easy shot into the open court after Murray just got to the initial one. However, Murray takes it to deuce with a nice backhand return winner crosscourt. Goes for the backhand down the line in the next point does Murray, but misses and gives Djokovic another set point. Can't get that one either, as Djoko fires a forehand into the net. A solid serve into the body, though, gives him a simple putaway and another set point. Another solid serve sees Murray return into the net and that is that.
Just too strong in the rallies is Djokovic, and with Murray's forehand stuck in the Melbourne traffic, there is absolutely no chance. Hopefully the forehand makes it to the Rod Laver Arena in time for the second set, we might at least have a match then.
Djokovic 6-1 Murray.
2.37 pm: A simple putaway volley goes into the net to pretty much sum up Murray's evening so far. It goes to 15-30 again, but Murray comes back with a solid serve and a gorgeous passing shot on the run. A backhand into the net from Djokovic gives Murray his first game of the final.
Djokovic 5-1 Murray.
2.32 pm: Djokovic holds at 15 and he is just a game away from the first set. So one sided so far this final.
Djokovic 5-0 Murray.
2.29 pm: Murray hasn't started yet. Looks like he is in practice mode or something as Djokovic keeps hitting the right shots (when doesn't he aye) while Murray keeps making the errors. Another ridiculously easy break for Djokovic.
Djokovic 4-0 Murray.
2.25 pm: Djokovic looks in the mood already. A beautiful drop shot completely flummoxes Murray and gives the Serbian a 15-0 lead, before a forehand return into the net makes it 30-0. Djokovic then rips, and I mean rips, a forehand crosscourt winner to take it to 40-0, before a backhand down the line gives him a comfortable hold.
Djokovic 3-0 Murray, first set.
2.22 pm: A couple of errors each and it goes to 15-15, before a Murray backhand into the net gives Djokovic a slight opening at 15-30. That opening becomes considerably wider when Murray fires a forehand into the net, and then a double fault hands Djokovic the break.
Djokovic 2-0 Murray
2.18 pm: Djokovic wins the second point of the match with a thumping forehand down the line. Murray comes back, though, with a couple of points to take it to 30-30 and then a backhand into the net from Djokovic gives Murray a break point. On the second serve, Murray cannot take advantage as Djoko after a bit of back and forth, rips a crosscourt backhand winner to take the game to deuce. Do not go to Djoko's backhand Andy, it is deadly. A shot from Murray then just goes long, but Murray refuses to go away, forcing a backhand long to take it back to deuce. The first ace of the match follows, and another strong forehand is returned into the net by Murray.
Djokovic 1-0 Murray first set.
2.13 pm: And we're off, Djokovic serving and winning the first point, as Murray hits one long.
2.07 pm: The toss now, as Murray and Djokovic pose for a photo with a lucky youngster. Djokovic has won the toss and the defending champion will serve.
The warming up has also begun, and we should get this final underway soon.
2.03 pm: Djokovic and Murray are out on court, with the crowd giving the two players a huge cheer.
2 pm: The crowd is waiting for the players to come out onto the court, it looks pretty full already, so should be a nice atmosphere in Melbourne.
Ashim has just stepped out for a while, so this is Deepak Vikraman here taking you through the final for a while.
1:45: Djokovic is favourite to clinch the title. Talking about the finals, both the players have a contrasting record. Djokovic has not lost a single finals in the Australian Open while Murray, who has failed to win any of his finals, has a disappointing 0-4 record, which the world number two will be eager to break.
Revenge shall also be on the cards for Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the title-decider last year as well.
1:30 pm: We are just thirty minutes away for the final to begin and one cannot wait for the duo to walk into the middle and entertain all and sundry with their skilled performances. The crowd are expected to support the underdog, Murray, who will be itching to win his first Australian Open title. Can he?
Hello folks, I, Ashim Sunam, will bring you all the live updates from the 2016 Australian Open men's singles final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The Serbian has been dominating the men's circuit in the last couple of years like no other. The world number one has won the Australian Open title five times, defeating Murray three times in the past to clinch the title.
Will he continue his dominance over Andy Murray at the Rod Laver Arena? In the next few hours we shall come to know about it.
