Australian Open men’s final: Murray’s Down Under dearth, Djokovic dominance

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | January 29, 2016

2016 Australian Open

Djokovic meets Murray in another Melbourne final

Top seeds and ATP world numbers one and two collide yet again in the 2016 Australian Open men’s singles final, as defending champion Novak Djokovic only has Andy Murray standing between him and retaining the title.

Coral rate Djokovic as an overwhelming odds-on 1/6 favourite to scoop an 11th Grand Slam crown, but Great Britain’s top tennis pro Murray is a fabulous 4/1 shot to dethrone the Serb.

All well and good, but the head-to-head record does not make pleasant reading for patriotic punters or Murray’s camp.

Dominated on hard surfaces

To say that Djokovic has dominated Murray in past hard court meetings is a major understatement. Since shocking the Serbian racket star to scoop the a maiden Grand Slam success at the US Open in 2012, Murray has won just one of the last 14 encounters on such surfaces.

In Melbourne, this is the fourth final in six years to contain the two, and Djokovic has delivered the last two both in four sets, so you can back him to repeat that result at a fine 5/2 price.

Murray has taken the second set in two of their last three meetings Down Under, however, and is a terrific 12/5 price to do so again here.

Murray must make history to take title

Yet to beat Djokovic in four previous attempts at the Australian Open, Murray must take heart from the fact that his two Grand Slam titles have come directly at the Serb’s expense.

That proves on his day the Briton can win, but anyone who expects it to be straightforward is likely to be disappointed. A nifty 9/1 punt on Murray coming through in five sets is surely worth a small wager.

Related

We’re providing full coverage of the Australian Open over at our tennis section.

Coral’s top tip: Deadly Djokovic’s dominance looks set to continue, and he’s a fab 5/2 to defeat Murray 3-1.