Defending champion Novak Djokovic made his many YouWager bettors happy by getting into an Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal after edging Andy Murray in a five-set, almost five-hour semifinal late Friday night.
Even when appearing tired and sore after the second set, the 24 year-old player rallied to beat Murray 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 in a rematch of the 2011 final at Melbourne Park to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam final.
After wasting an opportunity to serve out the match at 5-3 in the fifth and letting Murray back into the contest, the Serbian cashed in his first match point when the Scottish player missed a forehand after four hours, 50 minutes.
Djokovic was ecstatic as could be and fully laid out on the court. He got up and shook hands with Murray, before jogging back out onto the court like a boxer, dropping to his knees and crossing himself.
It was a bitter setback for the English player, who lost the previous two Australian finals.
Murray considers he’s already improved in the few weeks since hiring eight-time major winner Ivan Lendl as coach.
As online sports wagering fans might recall, Djokovic finished 2011 at No. 1 after winning three of the four majors, including a straight-sets win over Murray in the Australian final. His only loss at a Grand Slam in 2011 was against Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals.
It was a fantastic season after previously only winning one major — the 2008 Australian Open — and not returning to a final for 11 Grand Slams.
Djokovic is aiming to be only the fifth man since the Open Era started in 1968 to win three straight majors. Before him, only Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Federer and Nadal have achieved, with only Laver going on to complete the Grand Slam.
The Australian great was in the arena named in his honor for the semifinal. The right-hander watched Nadal rallied from a set and a break down to beat four-time champion Federer in four sets the previous night.
Djokovic’s 70-6 win-loss record last year included six wins over Nadal — all in finals.
Oddsmakers think that the Maria Sharapova vs. Victoria Azarenka women’s final on Saturday night will probably be battle of the two loudest grunters on the tour. Azarenka, who won the Sydney International title the weekend before the season’s first major, has been made fun of by the crowd for her hooting sounds. She’ll be playing her first Grand Slam final.
