I don’t feel great: Murray

MELBOURNE: Andy Murray’s voice cracked with emotion and he choked back tears at the trophy presentation after losing the men’s singles final to Roger Federer.

“I don’t feel great,” Murray said. “Obviously, I worked really hard to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament.

“I think it was more the way the end of the match finished. It was a pretty emotional end to the match.”

Federer said he produced one of his finest performances to repulse the challenge of Murray and win his fourth Australian Open.

“I know this is an incredible trip I’m on. We’ll see where it ends. I hope not anytime soon,” said Federer, who has won all his slams in the span of 27 majors and has lost only six finals in that time.

“That’s something I’ve had to work extremely hard at. Now I feel like obviously I’m being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up.

“They’ve made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances, in a long time, or maybe forever.”

Federer’s victory made him the fifth man in history to win four Australian Open titles with the last man to do so American Andre Agassi in 2003.

Clarification: In the picture accompanying the women’s final report published on Sunday (January 31), Serena Williams is receiving Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from the legendary Margaret Court of Australia.