Live Commentary: Australian Open men's final: Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray - as it happened

Good morning everyone. Here it is, the big one! The men's final.

After two weeks of intriguing tennis, we end with Djokovic vs. Murray for the first Grand Slam of the year.

Djokovic, the reigning champion, is looking for his third straight Australian Open title, and it would be some achievement indeed.

Murray was run close last time by Roger Federer. The result in truth was close than it should have been, with Federer taking two sets on tie breaks. However Murray edged through to beat the Swiss - his first win over him in a Slam. Could be a pivotal moment should he go on to win today.

Djokovic was somewhat more comfortable in his semi-final, beating Ferrer inside an hour and a half. Disappointingly poor from the Spaniard, but Djokovic was supreme.

If you refresh that previous link will be working now. Let's have a look at what the players have been saying in the build-up to this one.

Djokovic is expecting a long battle today. He said: ""Considering the fact that every time we played in the last six or seven encounters, it was always long, physically demanding matches. We have to expect something similar to happen, and I'm ready."

Murray is looking to become the first player to follow their maiden Slam win with their next at the very next attempt, and he's hopeful. He said: "I think I started to play better tennis and played at my optimum level more in the big matches over the last year or so, which hasn't always been the case. "That's what has changed for me."

Andre Agassi has taken the Norman Brookes trophy down to courtside and will present it to the winner afterwards. The American won it four times, in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003.

Djokovic will go into this one as the favourite. If you fancy a flutter, odds for a Serbian win can be had at 8/15. A Murray win is 8/5 currently.

It took the Serb a while to get going in this tournament and indeed he was close to going out against Stanislas Wawrinks in arguably the match of the tournament so far.

This will be an interesting contest with some good subplots. Djokovic will be determined to fight back after US Open defeat to Murray. Murray in turn will be keen to keep the edge over the Serb. There's no doubt it's between the current best two players in the world.

The conditions here are much different, however. In the US it was windy - they'd been hit by a tornado only a few days before the final. Here, however, under the lights, it's warm and still. A true test of the players' respective abilities.

It could well go down to who has the most rounded game. For me, that has to be Djokovic, unless Murray can improve his second serve. It was, frankly, shocking against Federer.

Murray has chosen to receive first, so we'll be underway after the warm-ups.

Back to the previous point. The Murray second serve had been much improved in 2012 with the introduction of Ivan Lendl as his coach but his previous weakness came back to haunt him, especially in the breakers. His forehand is also stronger, but he'll need every element at its best to win. There's no reason why he shouldn't be at his best, however, and it should be very close indeed.

I really hope it does live up to its billing, this one. It's a potential four-plus hour match, but equally it could end in two. After Djokovic's showing against Ferrer he will be bursting with confidence, but Murray's five-setter against Federer could actually have set him up well.

It's also worth remembering that Murray has had a day less to prepare for this one. He played Federer late on Friday and now plays late on Sunday. Djokovic, however, played his three sets on Thursday.

And here we go! Djokovic to serve.

Murray takes the first point on second serve, but the Serb responds with two big serves - an ace followed by a swift one-two. Very solid from Djokovic, who takes it to 15. Can Murray hold his opener?

Much better second serve that from Murray. He caught the line and Djokovic goes long for 30-0.

Another good second serve takes him to a love and a comfortable hold following some Djokovic forced errors. It's his first serve that's rarely finding the target at the moment, but no problems with his second serve so good for now.

Murray digs in a little to the Djokovic serve, but it's comfortable enough for the Serb as he finishes with a good wide ace. We're with serve currently, both men have started well on their own serve.

Murray equal to Djokovic's forehands and backhands at the moment, which forced the serve into trying a drop shot, but he put it into the net. Murray holds comfortably and too finishes with a good ace down the line - very well placed and the Brit has yet to drop a point on his own serve.

Really good defence from Murray to stay in that point and Djokovic eventually puts a forehand wide for 30-15.

He defends well again, with Djokovic netting for 30-30 to give himself a small look-in. The Serbian responds magnificently with a massive forehand that clips the line, but puts a simple enough volley wide to bring up deuce. Murray gets a chance with a poor Djokovic drive volley but nets with the pass and Djokovic takes the game with an unbelievable point - Murray on the attack, comes to the net with the Serb finding the gap with a backhand almost round the net.

Marvellous pass from Djokovic. Murray sets the point up well with a drive to the corner and advancement to the net but the Serb found the line with his forehand.

Djokovic misses with an inside-out forehand and instead of three break points it's 15-30.

Now Murray poorly hits a backhand long and it's two break points.

Murray saves one break point with Djokovic hitting long and the second with some good hitting from the baseline. Then a long rally ends with the Serb taking the initiative and getting another break point with a huge backhand. Murray serves big to save again, despite Djokovic somehow getting it back over the net. He saves yet another with yet another brutal rally, this time Djokovic netting. Two booming Murray serves win him the game and it's a vital, morale-boosting hold. Fantastic game of tennis.

Uneblievable. Djokovic dives, still manages to get it over the net and return to it for a drop shot winner. Just superb.

Some early pressure from Murray in the game ends with that outrageous diving point, and the Serb wraps up the game comfortable. Again he came to the net in the final point, he has done a few times so far today.

Murray nets from the baseline with a poor forehand and the first point of his next service game goes to the Serb. He goes long with a backhand and Djokovic leads 15-30. Djokovic stops a rally to challenge and is correct - break point.

He saves it really well with an overhead volley coming to the net.

If either player looks like being broken at the moment it is Murray, but he holds his second very close service game running and levels the set. He's hanging on well.

Murray's first drop shot is appalling. Djokovic wouldn't have got there, but he didn't have to in the end as it plops straight into the net.

Again after just a touch of resistance Djokovic takes his service game. Murray hasn't had a break point yet, but has saved a handful.

Murray is up 40-15 here, with some decent first serves in and more success in the rally.

Murray takes his most comfortable service game for a while following an excellent last point. Murray looks out of it twice but defends incredibly, before Djokovic hits a difficult volley long. It looks for all the world like a tie break here.

Djokovic is 30-0 here, but some of these points are going several shots longer than they would against any other opponent, Murray is defending well.

However, he's powerless to resist once more, despite Djokovic serving the first double fault of the match. Now Murray must hold to go to a breaker, or he's lost the opening set.

The players exchange points with errors in a nervy game, but Murray holds well in the end with a big serve that cannot be returned. After an hour, we're into a tie break. Could be key this first one.

Double fault starts it from Djokovic. Murray now has two serves to get an advantage.

He wins his first service point superbly, running Djokovic from left to right and finishing with a forehand winner. Djokovic then goes long. 3-0 Murray.

The umpire overrules a non-call on a long Novak forehand and it's now 4-0.

Djokovic puts a smash right on the line to get back into the breaker. 4-1 Murray, he's now on serve.

Djokovic again goes long for a 5-1 Murray lead and then hits a forehand winner cross-court for 6-1. Five set points Murray.

SET! Djokovic wins a huge point at 6-1 down with a backhand down the line on second serve but then goes long! Murray takes the opener after 68 minutes and what a tie break he just played.

Djokovic shaded that set in most areas until the breaker. It was close, yes, but Murray flew out of the blocks in the tie break and Djokovic was always chasing. Big service game now for Murray.

Djokovic is the best in the game at putting a set out of his mind and moving on. He does it on a point-by-point basis, so that set won't have affected him. Murray, however, will be buoyed. I might be wrong though, two errors from Djokovic and Murray is 30-0 up.

What a start from Murray. Everything is going over the net, he's defending, he's attacking well. Currently the Serb has no answers as the Brit ends the game with an ace down the middle.

Murray is full of confidence. His shots are not missing and Djokovic is - 0-30 here.

The Serb goes long again and Murray has three break points.

Djokovic saves the first with a one-two at the net, although Murray still managed to reach it. Murray goes wide for the first time in a long time to leave him with just the one break point. Unbelievable, gutsy play from Djokovic as he saves the third as well.

In the space of a game it's Djokovic on top. What a forehand down the line from the defending champ.

What a hold. It was shot for shot in the last point but Djokovic takes it with a wonderfully timed drop shot returned into the net by Murray. Will those three break points play on him?

It doesn't seem so. A big serve and a good point of aggressive play move him 30-0 up.

However, a backhand put wide brings Djokovic level.

A big ace brings up game point for Murray and he finishes it following a powerful forehand right into the corner. That was a strong hold after the disappointment of the previous game.

Big ace from Djokovic at 15-15 right down the middle, and he follows it with a wide one for 40-15.

Superb return from Murray on the second serve with a jumping backhand down the line and Djokovic goes long on the next point. Instead of a comfortable hold it's deuce.

After a small scare, the Serbian holds. Still no break in this one.

Fantastic spinning ace from Murray to start his service game.

Djokovic sliding around like he's on clay. It's effective and he levels at 15-15 with Murray hitting the net.

Fantastic volley from Djokovic! Not with his racquet though, he's powered a left-footer right into the crowd. He lost the point though, in the game he's paid to play.

Comfortable hold from Murray and he finishes with another ace down the middle. A very good game from the Brit and Novak is showing a bit of frustration.

Important game this for Djokovic. He started well for 30-0 before Murray clips a delightful one over the post for the winner.

Apart from that one Murray winner it was comfortable there for Djokovic. He gives up just one point for the first time in the set - is this a clue that he's about to attack the Murray serve?

Maybe not. A couple of good point from Murray for 30-0, the latter an inside-out forehand winner.

Murray serves his first double fault to gift Djokovic a sniff of getting back in it, but the Serb goes long and it's an easy serve. After 19 games, not including the breaker, we've yet to see a break point converted. There haven't been that many for either player.

Djokovic holds without too much drama. Mayeb if I say it now it'll jinx it, but this is heading to another tie break.

Really strong from Murray. He hits a sublime backhand winner before Djokovic nets for 40-0.

He again double faults at 40-0, exactly as he did in his last service game. Djokovic goes long and Murray holds easily once more. The breaks will prove crucial in this.

There's some pressure now on the Djokovic serve. In a crucial second set he now serves to stay in it.

You can hear the effort the Serb is putting in, but Murray hits a quite superb forehand pass for 0-15.

Djokovic recovers well with some good smashes - he's been solid overhead so far.

It takes some textbook baseline hitting to stop Murray, but Djokovic is strong to hold and level the set. A really good game of tennis, both men are solid.

I wasn't keen on that defensive slice then from Murray. He seemed to have the Serb on the ropes, but let him back in for 15-15.

Not to worry - he makes up for it with an ace right down the T.

More really solid serving from Murray - he's been much stronger with the ball in this set. He holds and Djokovic again will serve to stay in the set.

Murray on the attack at the second serve. He comes to the net and volleys the finish for the opening point.

Djoko gets himself ahead but a tight double fault levels it at 30-30. Big test of the Serbian here.

He passes with flying colours. As he has done a few times, he comes to the net under pressure and finishes with a smash out wide.

Really good hold from Djokovic and it's a second tie break.

Murray gets ahead straight away with Djokovic returning long.

Djokovic wins both his serves to go ahead 2-1. The first time he's been up in a breaker in this match.

A feather puts off Murray on second serve and, after removing it, he double faults. 3-2 and advantage Djokovic.

Now 4-2 as Murray puts a forehand wide following a baseline rally. Warning signs here.

Murray can't return and Djokovic leads 5-2. Two huge service points now for Murray.

Bruising from both players but Djokovic somehow takes the point with incredible accurate strokes. He leads 6-3 now on serve.

SET! Murray limps one into the net and Djokovic takes the second! Just as Djokovic edged the first set and lost it, the same has happened to Murray. Could those three break points in the second game of the set come back to haunt him? Absolute deadlock this is.

Murray is getting treatment on a painful looking blister. In my very amateur sporting life one of those takes me out for a week! I'm sure it won't matter to Murray though in this Slam final. He's getting treatment and we have a medical timeout.

To be fair I'm not surprised he has a blister, it's been brutal baseline tennis at times.

That last set was 65 minutes, just three shorter than the opener. Will we have a break in this one? Djokovic to get us back underway.

A point apiece to start the next set.

That's a straightforward hold from Djokovic and he's underway well in the third.

Powerful stuff from Murray to put Djokovic on the defensive. He moves 30-0 ahead.

Djokovic shows some resistance on the Murray second serve and makes it 40-30 with a smash, but a big serve from Murray gets him off the mark in the set. Still no break of serve in well over two hours of play.

Strange shot from Djokovic then. Murray's deep shot might have been going out but Djokovic takes it on the full and hits the net. He recovers with a god one-two to make it 30-15.

Another simple hold from Djokovic to 15. Murray hasn't had a look at the Djokovic serve for a while. The Serb is closer to securing a break, but still has to step it up to manage it. Can he do it here?

No is the simple answer. Murray hits with some powerful serve and some big baseline shots to hold to love to level the set. That's now 28 games without a break.

Good attacking from Murray to level at 15-15. He powered into a forehand after running Djokovic ragged.

Despite that it again goes with serve comfortably. There's not even been a hint of a break so far. Djokovic had five break points in the opener, Murray had three at 0-40 in the second game of the second set, but nothing so far in the third after five games.

Really solid from Murray. He's 40-0 up.

Until He hits the net and then goes long...

He's pumping himself up now Murray after that hold. There's an odd flow to this one, as if both players know a tie break is again inevitable.

Two poor shots from Murray gift Djokovic a 30-0 lead. It'll take a big effort from him to break here.

He gets one point with a fantastic wide backhand back across the court.

He can't get back level, however, as Djokovic follows up with a thunderous backhand winner that tops Murray's.

Djokovic stays in the final point with a great lob, before Murray goes wide with a forehand. A little more resistance from Murray, but it's a simple hold in the scheme of things. Pressure back to the Brit.

Total points won: Djokovic 99-100 Murray. That tells the whole story.

That point won't have been good for Murray's blister! Djokovic takes it with a quality forehand winner after bruising baseline hits from both players. Incredible.

He's in trouble here. Djokovic came to the net and Murray went wide with the backhand down the line and it's 0-30.

Now three break points for Djokovic. Another forehand winner there and the break looks well on.

Djokovic finds the line with his return but then hits into the net. One saved for Murray.

Djokovic then goes long with a defensive forehand! Seven of seven break points saved thus far from the Brit.

BREAK! After nearly three hours, we have a break! And it goes to Djokovic. Murray nets with a forehand and this will be a massive test of his credentials. Djokovic to serve for the set.

He starts well with an unreturnable serve down the middle.

SET! Djokovic stepped it up then when needed. He completely dominated on serve there to take the set 6-3 and a 2-1 lead. Murray has to take it to five if he's to win this. Murray is moaning to the umpire about something, I'm not sure exactly what.

Very important service game this for Murray. He's down 0-30 following a trademark Djokovic backhand.

Superb response from Murray, clipping the line with a forehand to level it.

An unbelievable volley a the net from Murray to control a powerful Djokovic attempted pass sends him on his way to a vital hold. So important that he won that one and he did, but it took a big effort.

Now he simply has to start getting at the Djokovic serve.

He has a chance. Two sloppy Djokovic shots has put Murray 0-30 up.

Djokovic wins a huge rally and levels at 30-30. You think Murray's chance has slipped now.

But maybe not! Djoko puts a forehand wide and Murray has a single break point.

Just too good from Djokovic. Two big serves and he follows them up well to get the advantage.

Three big first serves pull Djokovic back from break point down to level the set. That should give the Brit some hope, though.

Djokovic now has two break points, bullying Murray around court and finishing with a forehand winner.

Huge serve saves the first for Murray. He needs another of those.

BREAK! That could be the end of Murray. Another big rally goes Djokovic's way when Murray nets with a backhand, and Djokovic gets his second break and will now serve to consolidate it. Hard to see a way back for Murray.

All the breaks are going Djokovic's way now. His drop shot from the back of the court clips the top of the net and goes just the right side.

He's battling, but the fine margins put Murray down 40-30.

Djokovic holds a close one, but a vital one. It's desperate times now for the British number one.

It's a real battle now. Djokovic goes 0-30 ahead but Murray comes out on top of a crucial rally to pull one back.

Murray gets himself ahead. In the next point he returns a smash long and it's deuce.

Unbelievable defence from Djokovic and it's Murray who puts a backhand wide for break point.

BREAK! Murray cannot hold a tight one. He goes long and Djokovic is two games away from his third straight Australian Open. He was impossibly good in that game, at one point saving it from deep in the shadows. You can't beat him like this.

Is there fight in Murray yet? He's attacking the Djokovic serve and is 0-30 to the good.

Too good from Djokovic. Murray threw away the point at 0-30 but the Serb has just hit a sublime forehand just over the net into the far side of the court and a similar shot on the backhand has given him game point.

Four straight points in that game moves the Serb to within a game. It's falling apart for Murray and you can see him being broken again here.

He moves up 30-0 with some good first serves, but Djokovic pulls of a dream of a drop shot from deep. My word.

Murray holds, more comfortably than for a while, but you feel the Serbian was conserving a little energy for the push on his serve here. Murray couldn't ask for more at this point than forcing Djokovic to serve it out and now he has to hope for a chance.

Djokovic nets with a drop shot right on top of it. First blood Murray...

Stunning backhand from Murray, who went down the line with Djokovic expecting the pass. That's 0-30.

Oh my. What a stroke of luck for Djokovic. Murray keeps himself in the point with a lob and Djokovic smashes into the top of the net and it bobbles over!

It's now level after Djokovic runs Murray ragged right and then left.

Championship point Djokovic...

GAME, SET AND CHAMPIONSHIP! Murray limply puts it into the net and the Serbian claims his third straight Australian Open. And he's delighted! Naturally.

That's Djokovic's sixth slam, and he had to earn it. Murray fought, certainly for two sets, but after the Serbian got that crucial break in the third set he ran away with it. He was simply too good today.

That's all from me today. Thanks for joining us for the final and I hope you enjoyed it! Until the next Slam.