The Scotsman, tipped as heavy favourite to triumph in the tournament Down Under following defending champion Novak Djokovic’s own surprise exit earlier in the week, was undone in four sets by the world number 50
Browsing: Novak Djakovic
The Briton is preparing for the January 16 to 29 tournament by competing in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi
Serb Djokovic, who could be dethroned from the top spot by Wimbledon champion Murray this week, broke Luxembourger Muller once in each set to secure a drama-free 6-3 6-4 victory
Djokovic defeated Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto
“These are the tournaments that we value the most and to be able to always come up with the best performance in the Grand Slams, of course I’m very proud of it and hopefully I can keep going,” Djokovic said after holding off Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday at the Australian Open
Twenty-eight-year-old Serbian Djokovic beat Britain’s Andy Murray in four sets to win the 2015 tournament, a success which saw him add to four previous wins in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013
The intense affair was tied at 5-5 in the fifth set when a rain shower started, which forced a brief stoppage