Djokovic, hardcore champion of the hardcourts

MELBOURNE — Novak Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne in 2008 when Roger Federer still dominated the men’s game week to week. But this is unmistakably Djokovic’s era now as he hugs the baseline and applies relentless pressure.

Yesterday, he stamped his mark more indelibly on the Australian Open by tying Roy Emerson for the most men’s singles titles in the event’s long history. Emerson, an Australian, won six times from 1961 to 1967. Djokovic won his sixth by defending his title and defeating Andy Murray, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6.

Djokovic is a true all-surface threat. One suspects he would find a way to prosper on sand or wood as well, but it is on hardcourts where he is most in his element.

While many European players start on clay, Djokovic took his first cuts at the ball on the hardcourts across the street from his parents’ ski shop and restaurant in the Serbian ski resort of Kopaonik.

The true bounce helps him with his take-the-ball-early timing, and it also suits his movement: Allowing him firm footing to push off and make very quick shifts in direction, particularly when extended wide in the court.

It is quite a package, and eight of Djokovic’s 11 Grand Slam singles titles have now come on hardcourts: Six at the Australian Open and two at the United States Open.

Both tournaments use a cushioned acrylic surface from the same manufacturer, although the US Open surface has generally been quicker through the years.

Still, yesterday’s final was not just about Djokovic’s latest success; it was also about Murray’s latest disappointment. Murray is now 0-5 in Australian Open finals. No man has lost more without winning the title, and it is largely due to Djokovic, his boyhood friend on the European junior circuit, who has beaten him in the last four of those finals.

A final tally of 123 points to Djokovic and 99 to Murray shows that there was a significant margin between the two yesterday.

It was partly Djokovic’s defensive skills which made it feel impossible to put the ball past the defending champion. But there was also the dominance off the forehand wing.