Andy Murray's dreams of winning the Australian Open were left crushed as he fell at the final hurdle once again to world number one Novak Djokovic.

The Serb raised his arms to the heavens and hurled his racquet and towel into the crowd after he beat Murray in four sets of brutal tennis, despite appearing at times to be hampered by injuries to a thumb and ankle.

After two brilliant, hard-fought sets, Djokovic surged ahead to overpower Murray three sets to one, hammering the Scot 6-0 in the final set to win his fifth Australian Open.

Victory takes Djokovic's tally of Grand Slams to eight, level with other greats Andre Agassi, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors and a certain Englishman by the name of Fred Perry.

Murray was in fine fettle on his way to the final but in Djokovic he faces a nemesis.

Just a week younger than Murray, he has now beaten him in each of the four Melbourne finals he has reached.

After battling back to level the match at one set all, the Andy Murray of old seemed to re-emerge when he began to loudly berate himself between points and games.

After a series of errors in the third set he hurled his racquet to the ground in anger, earning himself a chorus of boos from the crowd for his outburst.

And by the time the fourth and final set came round Murray looked beaten, eyes tired and head shaking. Djokovic won 12 of the last 13 games to clinch victory.

After receiving his runners-up plate, Murray said: "I would like to congratulate Novak on his fifth Australian Open today - (a) fantastic, incredible record and he thoroughly deserves it, well done."

His voice quavering a little, he added: "I would also like to thank everyone who came out the whole fortnight. I had amazing support again here and it's been probably my most consistent Grand Slam throughout my career, and I just haven't been able to win. But the support I have here over my career has been amazing, so thanks for that."

Thanking his team, including coach Amelie Mauresmo, Murray added: "We have put in a lot of hard work to try and get back in this position after what was a difficult year last year. Unfortunately (I) couldn't quite do it tonight but I am a little bit closer than I was a few months ago and I will keep working hard to get there."

Murray also thanked the tennis greats of yesteryear who came to support in recent weeks, including Jimmy Connors, Leyton Hewitt and Rod Laver, as well as Djokovic's coach Boris Becker and Mauresmo.

"It is so amazing to play in front of all of these great players ... it is a real privilege so thank you to all you guys for making it more special."

And with a rueful smile on his face, he added: "I'll try and come back next year and hopefully have a slightly different outcome in the final."

Despite his disappointment, Murray garnered praise for his performance.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Commiserations Andy Murray, but very well done on a great tournament. You are an absolute credit to sport and to Scotland".

Scotland Labour leader Jim Murphy tweeted: "What a brave performance by Andy Murray. Really proud of him. Despite today's result he's a real winner," while Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis added: "Gotta feel for Andy Murray having to stand through the ceremony when all he wants to do is get off court. Tough."

And 2013 Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli congratulated the Scot, saying: "Well done Andy Murray for this great final!! So happy to see u where u belong and massive Congrats to @DjokerNole 4 ur 5th @AustralianOpen."

Djokovic, as ever the gentleman, was gracious and humble in victory to his opponent as he collected the trophy from Australia's Roy Emerson, the only man to win six titles.

"I would like to return the favour and congratulate Andy for a great tournament again, tough luck tonight," he said. "You are a great competitor, you fight a lot and you want to congratulate your team and wish you all the best in the rest of the season."

And in a rather more personal tribute that had Murray's fiancee grinning in the player's box, Djokovic added: "But most of all congratulate you and Kim on your engagement and wish you a wonderful wedding and many kids.

"It is slightly different thinking for me now since I became a father and a husband, I apologise for changing the subject."

Djokovic, who now becomes the second man in history to win five or more Australian Open titles after Emerson, also thanked his team for their support, tolerance and getting him "through good and bad times", as well as the fans who turned up to the tournament in record numbers.

He added: "The Australian Open is truly one of the most remarkable sports events around the world and I am so privileged and honoured and grateful to be standing here as a champion for the fifth time and to be in the elite group of players with Sir Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and all the legends of our sport being out here and watching, it is an honour playing in front of you. Thank you all very much."

Djokovic signed off with a message that will no doubt strike fear in the hearts of his opponents, saying: "See you next year."

Murray's defeat means he has won two and lost six of the Grand Slam finals he has appeared in, having lost all four in Australia.

He later admitted he had been "distracted" by Djokovic's apparent injury issues during the match.

Fans in Murray's home town of Dunblane were up early to watch their hero do battle from the town's sports club, where around 20 people braved the cold for the final.

The club, where Murray first honed his skills as a young boy, has become a gathering place for locals whenever he reaches a Grand Slam final.

The fans' disappointment at today's loss contrasted with scenes in 2012, when around 100 people erupted with joy as they watched Murray defeat Djokovic in the US Open, and secure his first Grand Slam victory.

After today's loss David Marshall, chief executive of Tennis Scotland, said: "The standard in the final for the opening three sets was unbelievably high and, had a couple of points during them gone the other way, the result could well have been different.

"Andy has enjoyed a fantastic tournament and reaching another slam final is a great platform from which to build on for the rest of the year.

"Djokovic however demonstrated exactly why he is number one in the world and is now well and truly one of the all time greats of our sport."