Another final defeat is tough but I've just got to deal with it, rues Murray

ANDY MURRAY heaped praise on Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic as he tried to come to terms with another grand slam final disappointment.

Murray was comprehensively beaten by the Serb, 6-4 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 39 minutes, as he stumbled at the final hurdle for the third time and Britain's 75-year wait for a men's grand slam singles champion carries on.

Although the British No 1 admitted he performed below expectations, he also felt he came up against an opponent in prime form.

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"He played great although I would have liked to have played better," said Murray. "I think he would have beaten every other player on the tour (yesterday).

"He served well, he didn't make many mistakes from the back of the court, he moved really well and he hit the ball cleanly."

Murray, who looked out of sorts from the off and was second-best throughout a one-sided encounter, did break one record – albeit not one he will look on fondly – after becoming the first man in the open era not to win a set in three grand slam final appearances.

The first two defeats, at the US Open in 2008 and in Melbourne 12 months ago, saw him lose to an overwhelming favourite in Roger Federer but he came into this contest seemingly on a par with Djokovic.

But what transpired will haunt Murray for some time.

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His first serve percentage was a lowly 53 per cent, his groundstrokes continually missed their target, his body language was negative while his movement, so often his strength, proved another weakness.

His sluggish display prompted talk of an injury but Murray confirmed he was 100 per cent fit.

"I thought I moved decent," he insisted. "I could have moved better but no, I wasn't injured.

"Against Novak you need to be firing on all cylinders and I didn't move as well as I would have liked."

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Murray revealed after his semi-final win over David Ferrer that he had needed to resort to a 'Plan B' to get past the Spaniard.

But even Plan B did not work for the world No 5 yesterday.

"I started to go for my shots more as the match went on," he said. "At the start both of us were trying to feel each other out a little bit and as you work your way into the match you start to find patterns and go for your shots more.

"I started taking more chances and managed to break serves a few times but I wasn't able to keep it up for long enough."

Even though it appeared another chastening experience, Murray was adamant he felt better than 12 months ago when he was reduced to tears by Federer.

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"It's better than it was last year," he said. "It is obviously tough and disappointing but I have got to deal with it."

Murray at least competed in the first set as the two men probed for a weakness in a nervy opening.

The 23-year-old from Dunblane had to overcome an awful start, losing the first six points, before saving a break point to make it 1-1.

The match remained on serve until 4-5 at which point it started to go wrong for Murray.

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The alarm bells were ringing at 15-30 on the Scot's serve and the situation became even more dangerous when a fantastic 38-shot rally, which saw the initiative swing between the duo, went the way of Djokovic as he brought up two set points.

Murray was unable to come through, a long forehand proving to be out after a challenge.

With the first set in the bag, Djokovic was starting to cut loose and, after holding serve easily, two booming groundstrokes, one off each side, handed him a break point and the chance to further strengthen his grip on the match.

Murray saved it with a big first serve but a netted backhand presented Djokovic with a second opportunity which, having used Hawk-Eye to prove an ace was out, he took by easily chasing down a poor drop-shot before ripping a cross-court winner.

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Another comfortable hold from Djokovic quickly saw him establish a 3-0 lead and extend his run of consecutive games won to five.

Murray was starting to implode and the Scot handed Djokovic a double break and a 4-0 advantage with an awful game which contained three unforced errors, two off the forehand side.

Djokovic was in no mood to let up and he made it 5-0 before Murray finally got on the board courtesy of a big ace out wide.

Belatedly, Murray got his first break of the match to pull it back to 5-2 but it proved to be brief respite as a stunning forehand on the run gave Djokovic a set point which he converted when the Briton netted a forehand.

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Murray desperately needed a good start to the third set if he was to salvage anything from what was starting to become a chastening experience.

And he got precisely that as, after Djokovic missed a makeable drive volley on game point, he set up a break point and took it with a fantastic forehand down the line.

But the hangdog expression was quick to return as he promptly threw away his advantage when, from 30-30, Murray looped a terrible forehand wide and then hammered a smash out of court.

A swift hold from Djokovic was followed by a break as the Serb, on the seventh opportunity, cracked a magnificent backhand pass down the line to move 3-1 up.

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Perhaps sensing he was running out of time, Murray started going for a little more and he broke back to get the set back on serve when Djokovic dumped a drop-shot into the net.

He had to save a break point to level for 3-3 and he found himself taken to deuce once more in his next service game.

This time Murray was unable to escape the danger as he hit a running forehand into the middle of the net. Serving for the championship, Djokovic displayed a few nerves but managed to get over the line when Murray netted another forehand.

Djokovic felt his performance was as good as it gets, and few inside the Rod Laver arena would have argued with him.

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"It was a great match. From the start to the last point I did what I intended to do tactically and what I prepared for," said Djokovic, who claimed his second grand slam crown after also winning in Melbourne in 2008.

"I was aware of the fact I was going to have some long rallies against a player who doesn't miss a lot, a very talented player who is one of the best returners in the game.

"So I had to step in, that was the key. When I had the chance to step in and move him around the court that's what I did.

"The turning point was probably the last game of the first set when we had some incredible rallies from the baseline.

"When you have a set advantage, it's much different."

Djokovic went on to tip Murray for future grand slam glory.

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"I want to congratulate Andy for a great two weeks, it was really difficult to play against you.

"Hopefully you will have another chance to win a grand slam trophy and, with your talent, I'm sure you will."

MEN WHO WENT CLOSE TO ENDING 75-YEAR WAIT

Fred Perry remains Britain's last major men's singles winner. Here, we look at the other players who have come close to ending that 75-year drought.

BUNNY AUSTIN

The last British man before Murray to reach more than one grand slam singles final. A contemporary of Perry, he did not enjoy the same level of success. A finalist at the US Championships in 1928 and 29, he reached the French Open final in 1937 and the Wimbledon showpiece twice, in 1932 and 38 – the last British man to do so. He lost on all five occasions but did help Britain win the Davis Cup three times.

ROGER TAYLOR

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Three decades after Austin and Perry, Taylor narrowly failed to bring much-craved success to the lawns of SW19. He reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time in 1967 and then again in 1970 - defeating defending champion Rod Laver en route - and 73. He also made the last four at the Australian Open in 1970 and won back-to-back men's doubles titles at the US Open in 1971 and 72. Taylor retired in 1980 and later became Davis Cup captain.

JOHN LLOYD

Reached the Australian Open final in 1977, losing 6-3 7-6 5-7 3-6 6-2 to Vitas Gerulaitis. A classical serve-volley player, Lloyd struggled with the pressure of expectation at Wimbledon and did not make it beyond the third round, although he did win the mixed doubles title twice with Wendy Turnbull.

GREG RUSEDSKI

Switched his allegiance from Canada, where he was born and grew up with his British mother and German-born father, in 1995. On the back of his monstrous serve, he quickly improved and enjoyed the best year of his career in 1997, making the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the final of the US Open, losing 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5 to Pat Rafter. That lifted him to world No 4.

TIM HENMAN

Henman's travails at Wimbledon became a national obsession. His classical game and image endeared him to the SW19 crowd and he reached the semi-finals on four occasions in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. His best chance of making a final came in 2001 when he faced wild card Goran Ivanisevic in the last four but rain interruptions helped the Croatian and he went on to record an emotional triumph. In 2004, grass-court specialist Henman surprisingly made the last four at both the French and US Opens. He reached a career-high ranking of world No 4 and won a silver medal in doubles at the 2004 Olympics.