Andy falls at final hurdle

Jan 30 2013 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer

Sunday morning risers were disappointed to see their favourite tennis player lose in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Andy Murray reached his sixth Grand Slam final and was hopeful - as were his fans - of making it a second successive win following his victory at the US Open in September.

But despite taking the first set on a tiebreak, his opponent Novak Djokovic was too strong on the day, winning 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The duo, born a week apart in 1987, went toe-to-toe for almost three hours before there was a break of service.

They had shared sets on tiebreaks but crucially it was the Serb who broke serve to lead 5-3 in the third and go on to take the set.

Suffering from a tight hamstring after his four-hour semi-final against Roger Federer, Murray quickly saw the game slip away from him as two Djokovic breaks helped him to a 6-2 win and his third consecutive Australian Open title.

Back home in Dunblane and around the Stirling area, the flags and bunting were put away until the next Grand Slam.