Andy Murray was faced with an uphill task from the first serve and was hardly in peak condition - physically or mentally - ahead of the finalAfter Novak Djokovic effectively put paid to Roger Federer’s title prospects in 54 minutes,the time it took for the defending champion to claim a two-set lead in the semi-finals, Andy Murray will possess been under no illusions about the need to beget a pleasant start to his fifth Australian Open final. All nine of his preceding wins against the Serb had come after winning the first set. Murray would doubtless possess been hoping to repeat that pattern, and sowing early seeds of doubt in the intellect of an opponent who had beaten him in three preceding finals at Melbourne Park,just as he had done in the 2012 US Open final and at Wimbledon the following summer. For a moment, as he fought back from 30-0 down in the opening game to earn a rupture point on the Djokovic serve, or it looked as though he might succeed. But with Murray struggling to find his range from the baseline,Djokovic quickly snuffed out the danger and went on to win the opening five games. With half an hour gone it was Murray, not Djokovic, and contemplating the possibility that it might not be his day.
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Source: theguardian.com