Djokovic wins Open Era-record 5th Australian Open title

1 Djokovic 7 6 6 6
6 Murray  6 7 3 0

Novak Djokovic owns Australia. 

The 27-year-old Serbian made history Sunday in Melbourne, taking down Andy Murray in four sets to win his Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title, breaking a three-way tie with Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. 

It was another crushing loss for Murray, his fourth in six years in the Australian Open final and his third at the hands of Djokovic. Murray gave it his all for two sets, going shot for shot with the top-ranked player in the world, but it all fell apart in the third set. 

The first two sets took more than two-and-a-half hours to play. But tied at 3-3 in the third set, Djokovic found another level and won the next nine games, and 12 of the last 13, closing out Murray in stunning fashion. Djokovic improves to 16-8 against Murray all time, and has won eight of their last nine matches. (Murray's only win in that stretch came at Wimbledon in 2013.) 

It was a visibly and audibly frustrated Murray who lost his mojo in the middle of the third set. He was talking and yelling to himself, complaining about Djokovic stumbling on the court at times, and slamming his racket to the ground. 

Murray, who proved that he's healthy after back surgery and a force on tour with his new team, falls to 2-6 in Grand Slam finals. More than anything, though, it was Djokovic who proved Sunday that mentally he's superior to the Scotsman. At least in finals played at Rod Laver Arena. 

"I'll try to come back next year and hopefully have a slightly different outcome in the final," Murray said in his address to the crowd after the match.

The title is Djokovic's eighth Grand Slam and first since becoming a father a few months ago. He's now won as many majors as Agassi, Ivan Lendl, and Jimmy Connors, and at 27, he's six years younger than Federer. Djokovic ranks third among active players in Slam titles, trailing Rafael Nadal's 14 and Federer's 17. And he has the Aussie Open, where he's won 32 of his last 33 matches, to thank. Down Under is where he does his finest work.  

Here are Sunday's match statistics, courtesy of Sports Illustrated:

Novak Djokovic: 8 aces, 1 double-fault, 60 percent first serves, 59 percent first-serve points won, 62 percent second-serve points won, 7 of 12 break points saved, 26 of 37 at the net, 53 winners and 40 unforced errors.

Andy Murray: 10 aces, 3 double-faults, 65 percent first serves, 65 percent first-serve points won, 34 percent second-serve points won, 7 of 16 break points saved, 23 of 33 at the net, 41 winners and 49 unforced errors. 

The match took three hours and 39 minutes, and you can relive the glory that was the final by reading our live blog below. 

Live Blog

7:22 a.m. ET: It's over. Novak Djokovic is a five-time Australian Open champion. He takes down Andy Murray in four sets, setting an Open Era-record with his fifth title in Melbourne. 

7:17 a.m. ET: Djokovic is up three breaks in the fourth - and clearly final - set. He'll serve for his Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title. 

7:14 a.m. ET: They're preparing to party in Serbia. Djokovic's up 4-0 on Murray in the fourth set after holding serve, and it's a formality now. 

7:08 a.m. ET: Murray is falling apart. Djokovic breaks him again, for the second time in the fourth set, and leads 3-0. Murray's lost six games in a row. 

7:01 a.m. ET: Third set stats: Murray had five aces, Djokovic two; Murray went 1-for-2 on break-point conversions, Djokovic 2-for-4; Murray hit 11 winners and 12 unforced errors, Djokovic eight and five; Djokovic had 26 points to Murray's 21. 

6:59 a.m. ET: Djokovic opens the fourth set by breaking Murray, whose spirit seems to also be crumbling along with his title hopes. Andy's lost four games in a row. 

6:54 a.m. ET: Novak Djokovic is a set away. He wins the third set 6-3 in only 39 minutes and leads 2-1. Mentally, he's stronger than Murray right now, and Novak's on the verge of an Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title. 

6:50 a.m. ET: Djokovic picks up a massive break, as Murray double faults and throws his racket to the ground. We've reached the point in the match where Murray is regularly talking to himself. Novak's up 5-3 and will serve to close out the third set and take a 2-1 lead. 

6:45 a.m. ET: We're on serve in the third set, Djokovic leading 4-3. Let's be real: it's going to a tiebreak. Also, we're not counting, but we're pretty sure Murray and Novak are tied in fist pumps, too. 

6:38 a.m. ET: Murray, after blowing back-to-back 2-0 leads in the second and third sets:

6:31 a.m. ET: Djokovic's done it again. He earns a break of his own after holding at love and he's tied the third set. Ridiculous. Just when you think momentum is shifting, when you think Djokovic's awkward footwork will be the cause of his demise, the two are back even. 

6:24 a.m. ET: Murray opens the third set with a quick break, much like he did in the second, then holds at love to go up 2-0. Djokovic appears to be tiring, as momentum appears to be shifting towards Andy. 

6:21 a.m. ET: Some second set stats: Murray won 44 points to Djokovic's 43; both had three aces; Djokovic went 2-for-5 on break-point conversions, Murray 2-for-3; Murray hit 13 winners and 15 unforced errors, and Djokovic 18 and 15. They're dead even. 

6:15 a.m. ET: Andy Murray isn't going out like that. He wins the tiebreak 7-4 and takes the second set 7-6. We're tied at ones, two-and-a-half hours in. Murray has 86 points to Djokovic's 85. This is a stupendous final. 

6:06 a.m. ET: Djokovic holds at love, and we're headed to another tiebreak. It's only right.

6:02 a.m. ET: Another lengthy game results in Murray holding serve. Djokovic had three chances to break, but couldn't get it done. Novak will serve to force another tiebreak. Incredible tennis, about as close as it gets.

5:52 a.m. ET: The longest game of the match ends in Djokovic saving a set point and holding serve after deuce No. 4. It's 5-5 in the second set, two hours and 10 minutes into the final. We're going to be here all night and all morning. 

5:37 a.m. ET: Murray has his break, after a slight delay due to a couple of court invaders. He's still alive in the match, and is 2-for-2 on break-point conversions in the second set. 

5:28 a.m. ET: Murray with a crucial hold, but he remains down a break. If he loses the second set, this baby's over. And speaking of babies ...

5:24 a.m. ET: Djokovic has won 12 points in a row. He may be in Murray's head. And others' ...

5:20 a.m. ET: Djokovic goes from down 2-0 to up 3-2 after he breaks Murray for the second time in the second set, winning eight points in a row. The missed opportunities are adding up for Andy. 

5:18 a.m. ET: Frustration creeping into Murray's game, as he's hit seven unforced errors and only one winner early in the second set. He let out one howler of a scream after pounding a ball into the net. 

5:10 a.m. ET: Djokovic, who looks a bit unbalanced on the court, quite uncharacteristic for him, has a break of his own. We're back on serve, Murray up 2-1.  

5:05 a.m. ET: Murray holds to open the second set, then breaks Djokovic. He's up 2-0, an excellent response after a tough first-set loss. 

5:04 a.m. ET: Some first set stats: Djokovic with three aces to Murray's one; Djokovic went 2-for-4 on break points, Murray 2-of-7; Djokovic hit 19 winners and 17 unforced errors compared to Murray's 12 and 13, respectively; both players won 42 points. It was tight. 

4:55 a.m. ET: Djokovic, who was up 4-1 at one point in the first set, wins the tiebreak 7-5 to take the first set 7-6 over Murray. This is a battle, and a good one. Remember: Murray's never beaten Djokovic when he loses the first set to him. Djokovic's also 36-1 in finals when winning the first set. A good omen for the Serbian. 

4:42 a.m. ET: Back-to-back holds and we're going to a tiebreak, as the first set hits the 60-minute mark. 

4:35 a.m. ET: Murray holds at love, and it's 5-5. 

4:31 a.m. ET: We've got our fourth break of the set, as Murray breaks Djokovic, who is now being looked at by a doctor. He might have hurt himself on an earlier fall on the court, at the net, as he chased a volley. It's 5-4 Novak in the first set, Murray on serve. Of note: Murray's never beaten Djokovic after dropping the first set to him. This is massive. 

4:27 a.m. ET: Murray worked himself back to being on serve, and Djokovic broke him again. It's 5-3 Novak, but more importantly, Djokovic is dealing with some sort of thumb or hand issue, which is influencing his grip on his racket. He's shaking his right hand and looking at his right thumb between points, and will see a trainer during the next changeover. 

4:18 a.m. ET: Djokovic fights off another two break points, but the sixth one was the charm for Murray, who has his first break and is back in the first set. It's 4-3 Djokovic. 

4:11 a.m. ET: Murray with a vital hold, and he trails 4-2. But the rallies. They are incredible. We're being spoiled early in this one, and here's a good summary of how well Djokovic is playing:

4:06 a.m. ET: Djokovic holds, leads 4-1, and is playing absurd tennis to start the match. He's in flight, and Murray has no answers. 

4:03 a.m. ET: Djokovic breaks Murray and leads 3-1. He looks phenomenal early, hitting 12 winners and only one unforced error. He's the best player on the planet for a reason. 

3:55 a.m. ET: After falling behind love-40, Djokovic fights back and wins five points in a row to hold serve. It's 2-1 Djokovic, as the match awaits its first break. 

Observations: Murray very active, attacking, running all over the court, putting pressure on the world No. 1. We've already seen some brilliant forehand winners and excellent rallies. How could anyone not like tennis? 

3:44 a.m. ET: We're underway, Djokovic holds to take a 1-0 lead, but more importantly, the Internet demands that you see Kim Spears' shirt (she likes to swear):

3:35 a.m. ET: Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have taken the court at Rod Laver Arena for their third Australian Open men's final in five years. It's their fourth meeting in Melbourne, and Djokovic, the world No. 1, has won the first three meetings. He's 15-8 all time versus Murray. 

It's tennis time, conditions are warm with a slight breeze, the roof's open, Djokovic serves to start, and we're live blogging all the action.