Djokovic the 2013 Australian Open Champion

Novak Djokovic has become the first man since 1967 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, and his fourth championship win in Melbourne. 

Djokovic claimed his sixth grand slam title after defeating world number three Andy Murray in a 6-7 7-66-3 6-2 win.

"There's going to be some obvious reasons for me feeling a little bit better," said the British number one.

"The last few months have been the best tennis of my life - I made the Wimbledon final, won the Olympics, won the US Open, I was close here as well. It was close.

"I know no one's ever won a Slam, the immediate one after winning their first one. It's not the easiest thing to do and I got extremely close.

The Scot had been in charge but was disrupted when serving at 2-2, a feather floating down onto the court following a missed first serve, and after removing it he promptly double-faulted and smacked a forehand wide.

He won just one more point in the tie-break as Djokovic took control to level after two hours and 13 minutes of action.

The physicality of the contest appeared to be taking its toll when Murray then required treatment for blisters at the changeover.

He failed to capitalise on 0-40 at the start of the third and that proved to be the decisive moment as he began to grimace between points, clearly struggling to move freely.

It took two hours and 52 minutes of absorbing but rarely thrilling tennis for the first break of serve to arrive, and it went to Djokovic.

A thumping forehand into the corner set him on the way at 4-3, and despite saving two break points from 0-40, Murray could not resist any longer and netted a forehand.

Djokovic went on a run of eight out of nine games as he moved two sets to one up and the Briton's serve unravelled, the double-fault count rising to five after just two in his other six matches in Melbourne.

Unhappy with the umpire for not clamping down on shouts from the crowd, and with his movement hindered, Murray cut a dispirited figure as Djokovic powered towards another major win.

In marked contrast to his opponent, the Serb was relishing the closing stages and romped home towards match point, one delicious drop shot verging on the cruel.

Djokovic wrapped it up on serve when Murray netted a backhand and did a jig of delight on court before heading over to celebrate with his support team.