MELBOURNE, AP:

THIS was one occasion where Novak Djokovic couldn't really empathise with Andy Murray, his long-time friend.

As he prepared to receive the trophy for the Australian Open winner for a fifth time in five trips to the final at Melbourne Park, Djokovic turned to Murray late yesterday and offered his congratulations on his friend's recent engagement.

Murray won the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 to end decades-long droughts at the majors for British men, but was clearly upset at his inability to crack it in Melbourne.

Djokovic now has eight major titles, including his five in Australia, where he won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 and then won three straight from 2011 before losing in the quarterfinals last year to Stan Wawrinka.

Six titles

The 27-year-old Serbian is now second on the list of all-time Australian Open winners - behind only Roy Emerson, who won six titles in the 1960s and who was in the crowd Sunday.

After two tough first sets decided in tiebreakers, when there were eight breaks of serve and plenty of tension, Djokovic broke open the match after the sixth game of the third set and won 12 of the last 13 games. In the first set, he tumbled to the court, lunging to reach a volley, and needed treatment on his right thumb - shaking his right hand repeatedly. The second set was disrupted for five minutes by a political protester running onto the court, causing a lockdown of sorts, and another momentum shift. In the third set, it was fatigue, with Djokovic appearing to be struggling badly.

Djokovic's win on Sunday followed up on top-ranked Serena Williams' win in the women's final Saturday night against Maria Sharapova, giving the 33-year-old American a sixth Australian and 19th Grand Slam title.