Murray vows to break Grand Slam hoodoo after demoralising defeat to Federer

Federer has now won the Australian Open on four occasions (Guardian)

It is 74 years and counting since a British tennis player last won a Grand Slam. Andy Murray fought valiantly, but was comprehensively beaten in straight sets to one of the greatest players in the game's history, Roger Federer at the Australian Open Final in Melbourne.

Outsmarted and definitely outplayed, Murray was chasing tennis ball shadows over at Rod Lever Arena. Initially billed as a clash that may change the face of tennis, Federer reminded the world just how dominate he is in the men's game. His elegance in his movement around the court coupled with deceptively powerful groundstrokes, had Murray scampering around throughout the whole match.

Federer held serve at consummate ease on many occasions and ominously threatened to break the Scot's serve in a number of hair-raising moments for Murray and his legion of fans back home. While geed himself up on a number of key points, he was powerless to stop Federer's potent forehand, to an extent that Murray was clutching his thigh and back in between points such were the physical exertions Federer was putting him through.

With the Swiss star two sets to the good, Murray refused to give in despite Federer's apparent dominance. He broke to lead 5-2 in the third, but the 28-year old Federer used his experience and class to snuff out any opportunities Murray had to close out the set by winning three games in a row. This led to a tie break. As the breaker slowly unfolded with both players winning points from their own serves in nervous fashion, Federer found with a second championship point at 10-9. As Federer played an almost reckless drop shot attempt, Murray dragged his tiring body to stoop low and clip his shot on the line, to Federer's shock. But that only galvanised Federer as three tantalising points later, Murray netted a backhand as Federer screamed in relief.

A lack of risk-taking on break point opportunities proved Murray's downfall, in combination with sheer Federer brilliance. But there is a very little doubt that Murray can pick up his maiden Grand Slam. His emotional speech after the match shows how driven he is to break his Grand Slam duck. Although his game is not penetrable in the slow and low-bouncing surface of the French Open clay, his all-action play is at Wimbledon and even more favourably at the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.

Meanwhile, it is 16 Grand Slams and counting for Federer. At age 28, Federer is arguably still at the peak of his powers and still in the devastating form that we have known to see from him over the past six years. On this current form, Murray may possibly wait until Federer's retirement as there is no sign that he is relinquishing his current status as the best player in the game.