- Andy Murray has now lost five finals in the Australian Open after latest defeat by Novak Djokovic .
- The Serb and World No 1 raced ahead and took the first set 6-1 as Murray struggled in the opening stages .
- Former Wimbledon champion lost the second set 7-5 before losing the third set on a tiebreak 7-3.
- Djokovic wins record-equalling sixth Australian Open title with 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 victory.
Andy Murray almost sprinted out of his post-match press conference to catch a 1am flight out of Melbourne following yet another Australian Open defeat against Novak Djokovic.
While on court, Murray had done his best to delay his departure to get back home to see his heavily pregnant wife Kim Sears, at least after a poor first set from which he could not recover.
The opener took just half an hour but the next two sets spanned two hours and 23 minutes before the Scot went down 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 to the world No 1.
Angelique Kerber walked onto Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night as a first-time Grand Slam finalist. She walked off as the Australian Open 2016 champion, cradling the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after producing the performance of her life to beat defending champion Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4.
Last year, Kerber lost in the first round at Melbourne Park. This year, she came back from match point down at the same stage, stunned two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals, then avoided a comedown against surprise semifinalist Johanna Konta. But the German saved her best for last, handing 21-time Grand Slam champion Williams just her fifth final defeat, and first in three sets.
The leftie left nothing out there – angles, passes, scrambles to all corners of the court and two nerveless drop shot winners propelled Kerber to her first Grand Slam title against the six-time and defending champion. Williams was not at her best – she hit six double faults, struggled with her forehand and gave up 17 of 32 points at the net – but the world No.1 has so often found a way in spite of herself when it matters.
