vak Djokovic came out hotter than hot, managed to fend off Andy Murray's threatening advances when he cooled off, and then proceeded to steadily grind out the match. Now, he's a six-time Australian Open winner, matching Roy Emerson's record that's stood since 1967.

On Sunday, No. 1 Djokovic knocked off No. 2 Murray in the Australian Open final in straight sets, winning 6-1, 7-5, 7-6. The victory marks Djokovic's 11th Grand Slam and second consecutive Australian Open title.

Meanwhile, Murray's fallen short in all five of his Australian Open final appearances, with four of those defeats coming against Djokovic -- including last year.

Oddly enough, Murray nearly got off to a great start. Trailing 30-0 in the opening game, Murray ripped off three straight points, gaining an early chance to break. But the moment passed, as Djokovic fended off the break chance with a sensational backhand winner. Djokovic would hold in his first service game.

And that's when the wheels fell off. In the second game of the match, Murray was broken, double-faulting to hand Djokovic the game. In the first point of the third game, Djokovic pushed Murray back beyond the baseline with deep, powerful ground strokes. Suddenly, he played a beautiful dropshot out of Murray's reach. Djokovic was simply too good, holding a 5-0 lead less than 20 minutes into the match and capturing the first set in 30 minutes, limiting Murray to just 15 total points.

The first set was a one-sided sprint, but the second set turned into a marathon. Murray held to begin the second set, and he began to show signs of life.

In the set's third game, Murray fought off break point after break point, enduring a 12-minute game filled with near-impossible shots.

Murray and Djokovic split the first six games of the second set, with Murray increasingly getting the better of Djokovic, growing more confident and powerful with his groundstrokes. On the other side of the court, Djokovic showed obvious signs of frustration.

Djokovic's frustration ended momentarily in the seventh game, when he earned the first break of the set and took a 4-3 lead. But Murray struck back, securing his first break of the match with a monster backhand winner that painted the line, knotting up the score at four games apiece.

Eventually, Djokovic lurched ahead, 6-5, breaking Murray in the 11th game despite falling into a 0-40 hole, gaining an opportunity to serve out the set. Finally, after countless rallies, Djokovic won the 80-minute set, 7-5.

Nobody would've blamed Murray if he folded, especially after Djokovic went up an early break in the third set. Keep in mind that Murray took part in a five-set thriller just two days prior while Djokovic coasted by Roger Federer in his semifinal match the day before Murray's exhausting win.

Instead, Murray fought back, tying the score at 3-3 by breaking Djokovic. He held to take a 4-3 lead.
The match came down to a tiebreak. Murray dreadfully started with a double-fault. Djokovic followed with an ace. Another Murray double-fault granted Djokovic a 4-1 lead and Djokovic cruised to his record-tying win.

Now the question shifts to the future, as Djokovic continues to gain ground on Federer's record of 17 Grand Slams. Djokovic is still a ways away, but he's on a blistering rate having won the last three Grand Slams and four of the last five. At 28 years old, he at least figures to have a shot to break the record.

Even if Djokovic doesn't reach Federer's mark, he already finds himself in good company. He's now won as many major tournaments as Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg.