Melbourne, Jan 31 (DPA) Roger Federer lived up to expectations as he schooled Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) to win the Australian Open for a fourth time here Sunday.
The world number one claimed his record 16th career Grand Slam singles title from his 22nd major final.
Federer, 28, rallied from 2-5 down in the third set and saved five set points in the dramatic tiebreak, clinching victory on his third match point in two hours and 41 minutes.
Federer has now won three straight contest with Murray after losing four on the trot in 2008 and 2009. The Swiss improved to 5-6 against the third-ranked Scot.
Federer has appeared in 18 of the past 19 Grand Slam finals and now stands just a pair of major titles away from matching Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert’s career achievement of 18.
Federer maintained the status quo as he kept Britain winless at men’s Grand Slam events for nearly three-quarters of a century. Scotland’s Murray had been hailed as the saviour of British tennis as he made his bid to win a major after Fred Perry last did it in 1936.
Federer ran his record in Melbourne to 54-7 as he claimed his fourth title after wins in 2004, 2006 and 2007, beating different opponent each time.
The experienced Swiss backed up his 2008 US Open victory over Murray for that title, another straight-sets sweep.
rounak