Djokovic, Murray set for Australian Open final

MELBOURNE (AFP) –

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after a point against Spain’s David Ferrer during their men’s singles semi-final match on day 11 of the Australian Open, in Melbourne, on January 24, 2013. Djokovic faces Andy Murray in the final on Sunday as they renew a rivalry which has become the premier match-up in men’s tennis.

World number one Novak Djokovic faces Andy Murray in the Australian Open final later on Sunday as they renew a rivalry which has become the premier match-up in men’s tennis.

Djokovic, the 2011 and 2012 champion, is bidding for the event’s first hat-trick of the professional era, while US Open winner Murray can become the only player to open his Grand Slam account with back-to-back major titles.

The Serb and the Briton, both 25 and born only a week apart, have already met in two Grand Slam finals with Djokovic destroying Murray in straight sets in Melbourne two years ago.

However, an increasingly athletic Murray outlasted Djokovic in five sets in the US Open decider in December, when he finally landed a Grand Slam title after being runner-up four times.

The result broke a 76-year major drought for British men — and it gave Murray added belief that he can win at the highest level, after also beating Roger Federer in last year’s Olympic final.

Factfile on the Australian Open men’s singles final on Sunday

Murray confirmed his new stature with a five-set defeat of Federer in the Melbourne semi-finals, his first ever Grand Slam win against the Swiss, and goes into Sunday’s title match with his confidence high.

“I’ve been questioned for large parts of my career about physically would I be strong enough, mentally would it be strong enough, do I listen to my coaches, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever it is, can I handle pressure,” Murray said.

“I think those years of having all of those questions and then finally to be able to answer them I think, yeah, it was all part of the process. So I hope on Sunday I can play a good match.”

Murray is into his third straight Grand Slam final but he is rated by many observers as second-favourite to Djokovic, who has again shown his amazing resilience and played tennis of the highest order in Melbourne.

Djokovic, who outlasted Rafael Nadal in last year’s record, 5hr 53min final, won a punishing five-setter with Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round but showed no ill effects when he beat Tomas Berdych two days later.

Britain’s Andy Murray is watched by his coach Ivan Lendl as he takes part in a training session on day 13 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, on January 26, 2013, ahead of his men’s singles final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

In the semi-finals, he made a mockery of what should have been a difficult test against David Ferrer as he routed the fourth seed in straight sets, sweeping him off the court in less than 90 minutes.

“It’s just the conditions in general that I like, especially on Rod Laver Arena. It’s my most successful Grand Slam,” Djokovic said.

“Being in a third consecutive final is an incredible feeling and achievement, I’m so very proud of it.”

Cool temperatures are forecast for the final, which gets under way at 7:30 pm (0830 GMT) on Rod Laver Arena, centre court at the riverside Melbourne Park complex.

Meanwhile, women’s champion Victoria Azarenka said she had the confidence to target every major title after defeating China’s Li Na in Saturday’s final.

“Every one,” the world number one told media on Sunday, when asked which Grand Slam tournament she would most like to win this year.

“I mean, you cannot prefer any because they are so different, so special.

“So it’s really, really hard. I don’t rate my chances. I just make it happen. I don’t rate, I don’t look at statistics. I just make it happen.”