Melbourne, Australia

Novak Djokovic advanced to the final at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 7-5 victory over Andy Murray

The top seed at the season's first Grand Slam event, Djokovic will face Rafael Nadal in the final.

Djokovic and Murray slugged it out for 4 hours and 50 minutes in a memorable match.

After winning three straight games in the fifth set to take a 5-2 lead, Djokovic saw Murray battle back and even the set with a break.

Murray had three break points in the next game but Djokovic fought them all off and held to take a 6-5 lead. The Serb then clinched the match with a winner to break Murray and take the final set 7-5.

You have to find strength in those moments and energy, and that keeps you going, I guess," Djokovic said. "At this level, very few points decide the winner, as it was the case tonight."

Murray failed to reach the final here for the first time in three years, but was encouraged despite the loss.

"After last year, the year that Novak's had, I think there's a very fine line between being No. 1 in the world and being three or four. I think that gap, I feel tonight I closed it," Murray said. "My job over the next two or three months is to surpass him and the guys in front of me. So take a lot of hard work, and hopefully I can do it."

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