Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win fifth Australian Open title

Novak Djokovic won his fifth Australian Open title and extended Andy Murray's misery at Melbourne Park by beating the Scotsman 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 in the final Sunday.

Murray has now been a losing finalist four times here, losing twice previously to Djokovic in 2011 and 2013 and to Roger Federer in 2010. Djokovic is a perfect 5-for-5 in Australian Open finals and has eight Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic swung momentum in a close match with a service break in the eighth game of the third set, winning four straight points. When he took a 4-0 lead in the last set, he smacked his fist hard against his chest in celebration.

At the end of the match, Djokovic threw his racket into the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Roy Emerson, the only other man with five or more Australian titles, was in the crowd and Djokovic acknowledged the presence of the six-time champion.

"I'm so grateful to be standing here as a champion for the fifth time, and to be in the elite group of players - Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and all the legends of our sport," Djokovic said.

Murray sat slumped over in his chair after the match, awaiting the presentations, and once again received the runner-up plate instead of the trophy.

"I had amazing support again here," Murray said. "It's been my most consistent Grand Slam of my career. I haven't been quite able to win, but the support I've received here has been amazing. I'll try and come back next year and hopefully have a slightly different outcome in the final."

Djokovic faced three break points in the third game of the opening set but saved them all, twice coming to the net, including on game point, to hold and take a 2-1 lead. He broke Murray in the next game, but Murray got back on serve when he broke Djokovic in the seventh game.

Djokovic served for the first set after breaking Murray in the eighth game, but Murray broke back. After that game, Djokovic had a trainer attend to this right thumb.

                                

He double-faulted to open the tiebreaker but then, after Murray took a 2-1 lead, won five of the next six points to regain control. He clinched the set when Murray netted a backhand service return.
In the second set, Djokovic saved a set point in the 10th game and Murray saved three break points in the 11th before it went to the tiebreaker. Sixth-seeded Murray dominated the breaker to lead 6-2, securing four set points before clinching it on Djokovic's serve.
The second set was delayed for about five minutes after the seventh game when a court invader protesting Australia's refugee policies was removed by security after stepping on to the court. Other spectators in the stadium unfurled a political banner.
Djokovic broke Murray's serve in the eighth game of the third set, winning four straight points, prompting the Scottish player to throw his racket and yell repeatedly into his towel. The crowd booed Murray's display.
There was a bigger cheer for Djokovic when the introductions were made, but plenty of Scottish flags in the stands. Some Serbian fans yelled "Adje Nole" - Serbian for Come on Nole, which is Djokovic's nickname.
Before the match began, Andy Murray's fiancee, Kim Sears, caused a stir. She was dressed in an oversized T-shirt with a message that poked fun at the widespread attention paid to her use of colorful language during Murray's semifinal win over Tomas Berdych.
Rather than shy away from the issue, Sears' T-shirt for the final showed a sense of humor. It read: "Parental Advisory Explicit Content."

Martina Hingis, Leander Paes win Australian Open mixed doubles title

                                

Martina Hingis won her first Grand Slam title since returning from retirement, teaming with Leander Paes of India to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kristina Mladenovic of France and Daniel Nestor of Canada.

With Paes serving for the match, Hingis, a five-time singles champion, hit a hard overhead to Mladenovic, who netted a half volley from near the baseline.

Hingis, who won three singles and six doubles titles at Melbourne Park, returned to the tour to play doubles in 2013 and teamed with the 41-year-old Paes for the first time at the Australian Open.

Hingis, 34, won the 2006 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Manesh Bhupathi, who was Paes' former longtime doubles partner.

Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova to win sixth Australian Open title

Serena Williams won her 19th Grand Slam title, continued her unbeaten run in six Australian Open finals and extended her decade-long domination of Maria Sharapova with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win on Saturday night.

After celebrating prematurely on her third match point, letting her racket go after serving what she thought was an ace but learning that it was a let, top-ranked Williams took a deep breath and fired another ace - her 15th of the set and 18th of the match - to seal it.

This time, the celebration was real. She jumped around like a little child, bouncing up and down, before shaking hands with Sharapova at the net.

"Growing up I wasn't the richest but I had a rich family in spirit and support and you know standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen," Williams said. "I went on the courts with just a ball, and a racket and a hope, that's all I had.

"I'm so honored to be here tonight and to hold this 19th trophy @ my favorite stadium."

Williams, coughing frequently and still affected by a recent cold, controlled the first set around a rain delay in the sixth game, when the match was stopped for 13 minutes for the roof to be closed. Williams came back on court momentarily near the end of the break, but returned to the locker room with a hacking cough. She later said she had vomited before returning to Rod Laver Arena to continue.

                             

It didn't show. She came back from the break and fired an ace to start a run of six straight points. She was broken while serving for the set but broke Sharapova for a third time to clinch it.

The 33-year-old Williams, the oldest winner of the Australian women's title in the Open era, won the first six points of the second set and seemed on course for another lopsided victory before Sharapova hit back to set up a dramatic second set.

Sharapova saved two match points, including one in the 10th game when she bravely hit a forehand winner down the line - applauded by Williams. She twice held serve to stay in the match.

The No. 2-ranked Sharapova forced a tiebreaker and then took the first point off Williams when she leaped into a service return down the line. But Williams rallied again and relied on her serve to keep the points short, missing a second set point when Sharapova hit a winning service return. Williams didn't relent, though, and secured the title that lifted her above Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who had 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

Williams has now won 16 in a row and is 17-2 in career matches against five-time major winner Sharapova, who hasn't won a head-to-head meeting since 2004.

Two of Williams' six Australian titles have come with straights-set wins in the final against Sharapova, the first in 2007. For 2008 champion Sharapova, it was a third loss in a final at Melbourne Park.

"I haven't beaten her in a long time but I love every time I step on the court with her," said Sharapova, who had to save two match points in the second round. "I've had some of the best memories of my career on this court and also some of my toughest losses, but that's the life of a tennis player."