Roger Federer inflicted a straight sets defeat on Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open to deny the Scot a maiden grand slam title.

The 28-year-old Swiss won his 16th grand slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) in two hours and 41 minutes under the Rod Laver Arena lights.

Murray was made to play for an anxious start as he allowed the world number one to coast through the opening two sets before finally providing stubborn resistance in the third.

But after grabbing the first break in the third set Murray immediately relinquished his advantage and after an enthralling tie-break, when the Scot wasted five set points, his challenge was ended.

The 22-year-old Murray had entered the match in arguably the best form of his career after dropping just one set and eliminating defending champion Rafael Nadal en route to the final.

He had been able to mix aggression with endeavour to coast through those matches, but he simply lacked the class of the world number one whose performance offered little reason to hope Murray could end Britain's 74-year wait for a male champion while he remains at his peak.

Murray showed some early nerves with a double fault in his opening game as he was easily broken.

The fifth seed responded immediately to break back as he pushed a running backhand past an advancing Federer before following it with a forehand passing shot.

The muggy conditions, following afternoon showers in Melbourne, were slowing up the speed of the balls and both players were content to play long rallies.

That did not help Murray's counterpunching style and he was broken in the eighth game when Federer hammered a forehand winner before holding serve to clinch the opener.

Federer started to take control of the match and he broke Murray to love in the third game.

The world number one cracked a forehand cross-court winner to assert his authority and Murray was left with his head bowed.

The pressure was showing on the Scot who missed a couple of routine groundstrokes and he was being run around the court as Federer dictated the play with some perfectly angled shots before sewing up the second set.

Murray finally began to show the form that had catapulted him into the final as he took a lead for the first time when he broke Federer in the sixth game of the third set.

He converted with his third break-point chance when after twice failing to pass Federer, he angled a forehand across court.

It brought a subdued crowd to life as they sensed a revival in the Scot's challenge as the ripped forehand winner from Murray drew a roar of celebration from him.

Murray's comeback was, however, immediately deflated as he was broken in the next game with a timid volley allowing Federer to take the set to a tie-break.

An enthralling decider, which lasted 18 minutes, saw Murray pass up five set points before Federer won the match with his third championship point when the Scot blasted a backhand into the net.

Roger Federer Factfile

1981: Born August 8 in Basle, Switzerland.

1998: Wins junior singles and doubles at Wimbledon.

1999: Youngest player, at 18 years and 14 months, to finish season in top 100.

2000: Loses in first round of Wimbledon to Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

2001: Ends champion Pete Sampras' 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon with five-set victory on Centre Court before losing to Tim Henman in the quarter-finals.

2002: Wins Masters Series title in Hamburg, but beaten by qualifier Mario Ancic in the first round at Wimbledon.

2003: Wins grasscourt ATP International Series event in Halle, Germany, before winning first Wimbledon singles title by beating Mark Philippoussis in straight sets in the final.

Beaten in fourth round at US Open by David Nalbandian, but ends season by winning Tennis Masters Cup and is ranked number two in the world.

2004: Defeats Marat Safin in Australian Open final to win his second grand slam. Takes over as world number one. Beaten by Gustavo Kuerten in third round of the French Open, but overcomes Andy Roddick in four sets to retain Wimbledon title.

Thrashes Lleyton Hewitt 6-0 7-6 (7/3) 6-0 to win US Open for first time.

2005: Loses Australian Open semi-final to Safin after five-set epic. Also loses in French Open semi-finals, against Rafael Nadal. Crushes Roddick in straight sets to retain Wimbledon title. Beats Andre Agassi in four sets to retain US Open crown.

2006: Wins second Australian Open title, battling to win over Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. Loses in French Open final to Nadal before taking revenge at Wimbledon, where he beats the Spaniard in the final to win fourth consecutive title at All England club. Extends unbeaten run on grass to a record 49 matches.

Wins third straight US Open title with four-set defeat of Roddick.

2007: Wins Australian Open without dropping a set in the tournament - first since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to achieve the feat at a grand slam - beating Fernando Gonzalez in the final.

Sets new record of 161 consecutive weeks as world number one in February. Parts company with coach Tony Roache in May, and later in the month beats Nadal on clay for the first time, to win the Hamburg Masters.

Loses to Nadal in French Open final for second straight year, but beats the Spaniard in five-set epic to win fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, equalling the record of Borg.

Beats Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win fourth successive US Open crown.

2008: Loses in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in Australian Open semi-finals, halting run of 10 consecutive grand slam final appearances. Thrashed 6-1 6-3 6-0 by Nadal in French Open final.

Denied a sixth consecutive Wimbledon title by Nadal, who beats him 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-7 (8/10) 9-7 in a Centre Court classic. Knocked off world number one spot by Nadal in August, after 237 weeks at the top.

Wins Olympic gold medal in men's doubles alongside compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in Beijing in August.

Beats Andy Murray 6-2 7-5 6-2 in the US Open final in September to claim his 13th grand slam title.

2009: Loses in five sets to Nadal in Australian Open final.

June 7 - Moves level with Sampras' record of 14 majors and becomes only sixth man to complete career Grand Slam by beating Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 in French Open final.

July 5 - Wins 15th grand slam title - establishing a new record - by beating Roddick 5-7 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 16-14 in the Wimbledon final.

July 6 - Regains world number one ranking.

July - Becomes father to twin girls.

September 14 - Denied a sixth consecutive US Open title as Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro triumphs 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 in final at Flushing Meadows.

2010: January 31 - Defeats Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) in final of Australian Open.