A Dreadful finish but a promising start for Andy Murray

Lollipop and I witnessed no surprises this morning in the Australian Open. World no.1 Novak Djokovic won in four sets over  a frustrated four time Aussie finalist Andy Murray 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0.

Despite a physically thrilling two and a half sets between the tennis rivals which saw our Scot win a gripping rally to lead 5-2 in the second and converting his third set point.

When Djokovic netted a forehand to drop serve at the start of the third set, Murray appeared to have finally gained the initiative after two-and-a-half hours. But Djokovic fought back to break serve and what two time Melbourne finalist Pat Cash described as a “meltdown” from Murray soon occurred.

“He needs a good, hard look in the mirror and to get his head together,” said Cash to BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He has not put up a great fight. He hasn’t. Don’t put a rose tint on this.” 

BBC Commentator John Lloyd- a beaten finalist at the Australian Open also berated Murray’s performance and said: “He unfortunately went back to his old, pre-Lendl days, where things weren’t going right and he’d blame his group and get negative.”

“But to give the match away because of those lapses is inexcusable from a person that has won two Grand Slams. It again showed his weakness and he has to correct that.”

The two time grand slam winner was given a stern telling off from critics but not from Lollipop. Yes we were disappointed to see the match slip away so quickly. Yes we were at times just as disgruntled as Murray but our champ made a bold move  in 2014. After controversially choosing Aussie Open champion Amelie Mauresmo as his coach and hailing their partnership when he won a thrilling semi final against Tomas Berdych earlier this week the Scot has brought female coaches to the forefront.

After his collapse on court today some may question their partnership but since his back surgery in 2013 Mauresmo has taken him so much further at the start of this year.

For Lollipop this loss is not a disappointing finish but a promising start to 2015 which Murray can only improve upon.

Cash is right. “He melted down, he absolutely collapsed.” Murray and Mauresmo can’t hide away from that. It is a mental niggle that needs to be snuffed away from his game before he can win another slam.

Djokovic had his own mini meltdowns throughout the final hurting his hand in a fall and appearing to struggle with an ankle problem early in the second set. He then left the court after he lost the set.

There were some concerned looks to coach Boris Becker in the stands. He stumbled on more than one occasion and required some energy-boosting fluids at a break down in the third set.

But unlike Murray he found his control and ability to comeback. Then to win in the final set 6-0 shows what an incredible 5 time Australian Open champion Lollipop and I were watching.

“I would like to congratulate Novak – it is a fantastic record and thoroughly deserved,” said Murray.

We could not have put it better ourselves. But we know our Scot will return. Like he said after the final this is his most consistent grand slam throughout his career however he just has not won it. Yet…

Can our girls go all the way in the 2015 Aussie Open?

Lollipop hopes so as the first Grand slam of the 2015 – the Australian Open starts on Monday at Melbourne Park.

In the long term absence of Laura Robson 22- year-old Heather Watson will be the only Brit in the competition. With Watson’s best performance in 2013 when she reached the third round of the Open she is no favourite like our champ Serena Williams. However Watson has proven she is no longer the underdog.

Today the tournament draws revealed Watson would take on in form Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round. Most players would see this as a tough opener but Watson and Lollipop are remaining positive.

The Guernsey born Brit told the Guardian. “I feel confident in myself, confident in my game and I’ve worked really hard in the off-season. I really hope that it pays off. It’s just converting it on the big moments, on the big stages, against the big players.”

Watson’s fighting talk can be backed up by her 2-2 record against Pironkova and their most recent match on grass in Eastbourne last summer which Watson won.

The 22-year-old enters 2015 as the world No49, by far Britain’s highest-ranked female player. Lollipop has found her results hugely encouraging this week at the Hobart International, where she has looked assured after beating American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-1 in just 64 minutes and Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 on the way to Saturday’s final, where she faces the American qualifier Madison Brengle. If she wins, it will be her second WTA Tour title and her ranking will be pushing top 40.

Even if Watson does not win a title tomorrow she has proven she is just as in form as Pironkova. But if she does perhaps Lollipop and I will be expecting so much more of the British number one in next week’s grand slam.

Our champs will of course have an easier route to the second week of the Open. World number one and five-time champion Serena Williams plays unseeded Belgian Alison van Uytvanck, while second seed Maria Sharapova opens against a qualifier.

As the retired 2014 champion Li Na is unable to stage a comeback the tournament seems wide open for the top seeds. Serena Williams suffered a shock exit to former World No. 1 Anan Ivanovic for the first time in her career in the fourth round after later revealing she had considered withdrawing from the tournament even before her third round match due to a back injury.

French Open champion Maria Sharapova also suffered defeat early on last year in the 4th round where she lost in three sets to the 20th seed, and eventual finalist, Dominika Cibulkova.

So despite their rankings Lollipop believes we could have an unlikely winner just as we did in 2014.

Rising star Simona Halep, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and US open finalist Caroline Wozniacki could be ones to watch next week. But then again so could the other Brit girl.

With even 17-Grand Slam winner Roger Federer admitting that top seed Novak Djokovic is favourite to win in the Men’s draw the women’s singles looks far more unpredictable.

Expect fiery contests and high pitched exasperated screaming throughout next week only from Lollipop of course.