Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Djokovic Bests Murray, Wins Aussie Open

British men maintain Grand Slam drought

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 30, 2011 6:04 AM CST

(AP) – Novak Djokovic won his second Australian Open title, breezing past Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 today to extend Britain's near 75-year drought in men's singles Grand Slams. Djokovic also won the 2008 Australian title. Murray has lost three Grand Slam finals, also falling to Roger Federer in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open. The Scot hasn't won a set in a Grand Slam final. Last year, Murray cried after his loss to Federer. They weren't immediately visible this year, but the hurt may have been just as bad after he lost seven straight games through the end of the first set and into the second and never appeared to be in the match.

The last British man to win a Grand Slam singles title was Fred Perry in the 1936 US Open—more than 270 majors ago. Murray and Djokovic, each 23 and born a week apart, are good friends and often practice together. At the coin flip before the match, Djokovic smiled broadly for photos while Murray looked fidgety and nervous. After the match, the two hugged, then Djokovic threw his racket, his shirt and then his shoes into the crowd.

Supporters of Serbia's Novak Djokovic cheer him on in the men's singles final against Britain's Andy Murray at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Supporters of Serbia's Novak Djokovic cheer him on in the men's singles final against Britain's Andy Murray at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011....   (Shuji Kajiyama)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.   (Vincent Thian)
Britain's Andy Murray gestures during his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray gestures during his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.   (Shuji Kajiyama)
Britain's Andy Murray pulls on his shirt in his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray pulls on his shirt in his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30,...   (Andrew Brownbill)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after winning the second set against Britain's Andy Murray in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after winning the second set against Britain's Andy Murray in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30,...   (Rob Griffith)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.   (John Donegan)
Britain's Andy Murray wipes the sweat from his face during his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray wipes the sweat from his face during his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday,...   (Shuji Kajiyama)
Britain's Andy Murray holds his face in his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray holds his face in his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011....   (Andrew Brownbill)
Britain's Andy Murray makes a backhand return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray makes a backhand return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.   (Rob Griffith)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic makes a backhand return to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011
Serbia's Novak Djokovic makes a backhand return to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
22%
0%
11%
67%
0%
0%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
flin1
Jan 30, 2011 8:59 AM CST
The fact that no Brit has won a grand slam title in 75 years is not that remarkable. It just shows how difficult it it to win one. On the men's side in any given year there are only a maybe 6 or 7 men in each tournament who are even capable of winning, with the top two or three winning almost all of them. Murray is a top player but he's the only chance the Brits have. Henman was the same story. Maybe if there were 3 or 4 top Brit players they'd have a real chance or maybe a top clay or grass court specialist. BTW, tennis has been dying in the U.S. for decades too and the Roddicks and Isners of the world aren't gonna win on anytime soon either.
Park
Jan 30, 2011 6:38 AM CST
It's kind of embarrassing how bad my country is at sports which we invented. Tennis, football (proper football that is) rugby and even cricket - we usually get thrashed in all of them! 75 years without a major Grand Slam victory. Apart from Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon I think.

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Novak Djokovic • Australian Open • Grand Slam tennis • Andy Murray • men's tennis

 
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne