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 Djokovic, bidding to become the first man to win five Australian
Open titles since the game went professional in 1968, ran hot and
cold but seized the points that mattered on Friday to beat the
defending champion 7-6(1) 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-0.
"As it was the case in the last two years we played five sets and I
was ready for the battle," Djokovic said in a courtside interview.
"We pushed each other to the limit.
"Stan is a quality player. I made my life very complicated on the
court."
The Serb world number one's life will not get any easier on Sunday
when he faces old friend Andy Murray, with the Briton looking to win
his first Melbourne Park title in his fourth final.
"Andy and I go back to when we were 12 years old, that's when we
first played each other," Djokovic added. "We've known each other a
long time, it's nice to play another grand slam final against him."
 NO TOMORROW
Wawrinka had steadfastly refused to be drawn into comparisons to his
grand slam tilt last year by sticking to a mantra, 'this is a new
year, nothing in the past counts for today or tomorrow'.
Aware the result of Friday's match could mean there was no tomorrow
this year at Melbourne Park, on his march to Rod Laver Arena his
eyes searched for the large picture of himself that is the most
recent in the 'Walk of Champions'.
Symbolism, and history, were not on Wawrinka's side.
Djokovic's picture occupies all three of the spots before his and
the Swiss had won just three of their 19 previous encounters. The
past two at Melbourne Park, however, had been modern day epics.
Both went to five sets with the winner then going on to clinch the
title and anticipation had been high for 'The Djoker v the Man 3.0'.
On Friday, the standard of play was not as high as in the past,
indeed Djokovic was atypically enigmatic and lacking in vigour,
though there were flashes of genius, with both applauding shots that
were simply too good for their opponent.
Statistically little separated the pair, but the points Djokovic won
were more crucial, especially early in the fifth set that allowed
him to break twice and race through the decider.
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FIRST-TIME PAIRING
Earlier, American Bethanie Mattek-Sands won her second Australian
Open doubles title after she and Lucie Safarova combined to beat
China's Zheng Jie and her Taiwanese partner Chan Yung-jan.
Mattek-Sands won the mixed doubles title at Melbourne Park with
Romania's Horia Tecau in 2012, but it was her first grand slam
women's doubles title.
They beat four seeded pairs on their way to the final, before they
secured the title with a 6-4 7-6(5) victory over the 14th seeds.
The unseeded duo were playing their first tournament together and
are the first new pairing to win the women's doubles title at
Melbourne Park since 2005, having got together the day before they
played singles.
"I know some teams kind of plan for the year a little bit," the
American said. "During the off-season it was literally, 'let's play
Australian Open'.
"We practiced the day before we played singles here.
"No doubles practice. Actually, we didn't even really know which
side we were going to play.
"Obviously we'll be playing some more."
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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