Andy Murray eager and ready to avenge near-misses at Australian Open

Jan 13, 2017

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have changed their games to reduce the strain but can still expect to beat the rest and meet each other in the final in Melbourne

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic can only play each other in the first major of the season in the final, which is a fortnight on Sunday. If it comes to pass, it must be like having a never‑ending appointment with a mad dentist armed with a rusty drill, given they have spent 20 hours and 41 minutes on court here in five brutal matches – nearly a day out of their lives.

As everyone is aware, Djokovic has prevailed each time, winning finals in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016. In 2012, he won a semi-final of awe-inspiring mutual pain in four hours and 50 minutes, prompting Murray – who had to rest for a day to recover – to express his gobsmacked admiration for his nemesis who, within two days, somehow found further reserves of energy to grind down Rafael Nadal in the final over five sets and five hours and 53 minutes, still the longest slam final.

Tags: Andy Murray Australia sport Australian Open Novak Djokovic Sport Tennis