Roger Federer has claimed the Australian Open title after beating Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) in Melbourne.
The 28-year-old Swiss won his 16th Grand Slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park in two hours and 41 minutes under the lights at the Rod Laver Arena.
Sunday’s result means that Murray, who also lost to Federer in the final of the US Open in 2008, will have to wait if he’s to become Britain’s first Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936.
He never really recovered from an anxious start, allowing Federer to assume control in the opening two sets. The Scot initially battled back in the third set and could have won it after grabbing a break of serve.
However, he soon relinquished his advantage and after an enthralling tie-break, during Murray failed to convert five set points, his challenge was ended.
The 22-year-old came into the match playing arguably the best tennis of his career after dropping just one set and also beating defending champion Rafael Nadal en route.
But for all Murray’s endeavour during the past fortnight, he simply could not compete and if Sunday’s performance was anything to go by, he could find it difficult to topple the world number one so long as Federer remains at or near his peak.
Neither player’s serve was completely convincing in the opening set and Murray also showed early nerves with a double fault in his opening game as he was easily broken.
The fifth seed responded immediately to break back by pushing a running backhand past an advancing Federer before following it with a forehand passing shot.
As the muggy conditions, caused by afternoon showers in Melbourne, slowed up the speed of the balls, both players were content to play long rallies.
Murray’s counterpunching style suffered as a result and he was broken again in the eighth game after Federer hit a forehand winner before holding serve to clinch the opener.
He really started to take control of the match in the second set and broke Murray to love in the third game. Federer asserted himself with a whipped forehand cross-court winner - a shot which left Murray standing with his head bowed.
The Scot was feeling the pressure, missing a couple of routine groundstrokes, but fending off two break points in his next service game to cling on.
Federer was pulling all the strings thanks to some perfectly angled shots which left the latter running this way and that. The Swiss failed to convert four further break point chances but Murray could not achieve a break back to lose the second set 6-4.
However Murray finally began to show the sort of style which guided him to the final in the third set.
He broke Federer in the sixth game, converting with his third break-point chance - an angled forehand across court - after twice failing to make the passing shot.
The hitherto subdued crowd came to life as they sensed a revival from the Scot - Murray giving them a familiar roar of celebration in return.
But the comeback proved a false dawn as he was broken in the very next game with a timid volley, allowing Federer to take the set to a tie-break.
The decider proved enthralling as Murray battled to stay alive.
He passed up five set points before Federer won the match on his third championship point, the celebrations getting underway when his opponent blasted a backhand into the net.
Sky Sports
