Optimistic Murray ‘going in the right direction’

Andy Murray headed for home yesterday feeling his tennis is “going in the right direction” despite his Australian Open final defeat by Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian became the first man in the Open era to claim three successive Melbourne crowns by seeing off Murray in four sets – and also gained revenge for his US Open final defeat to the Scot in September.

Murray has cut a forlorn figure after his previous Grand Slam final defeats but he was more upbeat on this occasion as he looked forward with optimism to the rest of the season.