MELBOURNE, Australia — In the 2012 season, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray ranked second and third on the ATP World Tour in terms of percentage of return games won. Djokovic won 35 percent of his return games, while Murray claimed 32 percent (Rafael Nadal led the tour with 38 percent).
As could be expected, when the two met in the United States Open final in September, 17 of the 49 games (35 percent) ended with a break of serve.
So it came as something of a surprise when the two opened this year's Australian Open final with 31 consecutive holds of serve.
After the first two sets were decided by tiebreaks, Djokovic finally broke through for a 5-3 lead in the third set, on what was his eighth break point opportunity of the match. Djokovic then broke again in his first and second return games of the fourth set, effectively putting away the match.
Murray did not convert any of his four break point chances, three of which came when he gained a 0-40 lead on Djokovic's serve in the second game of the second set.
"Yeah, that's the thing that was surprising," Murray said when asked about the lack of breaks in the final, chronicling what few chances he did have. "You know, I think the first two sets I had more of the chances in games on his serve. I think I had love-40 the beginning of the second set. Then obviously the third and fourth set, I think he broke at 4-3, got up love-40, I saved a couple of them, and then he managed to break. Yeah, that was obviously one of the differences. He just returned a little bit better. But it was surprising that there was so few breaks the first three sets."
Murray also attributed the lack of return success both had to the playing surface, which many competitors said was playing significantly faster than in past years.
"I think it's not the easiest court to return," he said. "It was playing fairly quick this year. Could be a combination of a lot of things. I don't know exactly why that would be."
Murray had success returning in previous matches this year in Melbourne, however, winning 45 percent (41 of 92) of his return games in his first six matches at the tournament. Djokovic had won 32 percent (33 of 102) in his first six matches.
Djokovic credited the lack of return success by both players in the final to exceptional serving performances.
"We both served well, I think," Djokovic said. "We were holding our service games quite comfortably. I was serving better against him today in the first two sets than I've done in any of the matches in the last two years. But I knew that he's an incredible returner and has that ability to make you play always an extra shot. To be able to get a lot of free points on the serve was definitely a positive."
Murray, however, had his worst serving day of the tournament in terms of double faults. After missing a total of two second serves in his first six matches, he hit five double faults Saturday night.
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