On at the present time 13 years in the past, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal pushed the boundaries of our recreation to a brand new stage! Two legends battled within the 2012 Australian Open closing and produced a cracker, with the Serb prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in 5 hours and 53 minutes!
Novak and Rafa embraced probably the most prolonged Main closing in tennis historical past, and it is arduous to think about it stepping down from the highest anytime quickly. The world’s finest gamers pushed one another to the boundaries, throwing all the things at one another till the final drop of blood and sweat.
Nadal prevailed within the fourth set and prolonged his possibilities. The Spaniard had an enormous likelihood to emerge on the high and raise a trophy. He lad 4-2 within the decider and had a routine backhand at 30-15 within the seventh recreation. Rafa missed it, and it will value him dearly.
Djokovic pulled the break again and prevailed with a late one to safe some of the emotional triumphs of his unbelievable profession. Two legends battled 60 instances on the Tour, however nothing comes near this excellent conflict.
The longest chapter of their 60-part rivalry. Djokovic v Nadal, the Australian Open 2012 closing 🏆 #rematch pic.twitter.com/w2Ya51dHiB
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) July 29, 2024
Novak received 17 factors greater than Rafa, forging that benefit within the mid-range rallies. The Serb landed extra winners and compelled extra errors from the opposite aspect. He survived all of the thrills and turnarounds to emerge on the high and defend the crown.
Djokovic created 20 break factors and seized seven, together with the essential one at 6-5 within the decider. The Serb managed the tempo in his video games properly after the opener. He obtained damaged 4 instances and confronted solely three break factors in units two, three, 4 and 5!
Rafa served effectively early on and secured a break within the fifth recreation. Novak missed two break factors within the sixth recreation earlier than making one other push on the return at 3-4. Nadal missed an opportunity to maneuver 5-3 up and sprayed a forehand error to expertise a break.
The Spaniard stepped in on the return within the eleventh recreation and grabbed a break after the Serb’s backhand mistake. The 2009 champion transformed the third set level at 6-5 with a service winner, bringing the opener dwelling after 80 minutes.
Djokovic responded with a break within the fourth recreation of the second set. The defending champion served effectively and moved 5-2 in entrance. Unwilling to provide the set away simply, Nadal denied a set level on serve in recreation eight and two extra on the return at 3-5.
Novak hit a double fault in that ninth recreation and suffered a pricey break, bringing his rival again to the constructive aspect. The Spaniard wasted an opportunity to stage the rating at 5-5 and hit a double fault on the fourth set level. Thus, the Serb leveled the general rating to 1-1 after two hours and 26 minutes.
Djokovic took cost and dominated the third set. He secured a break within the fourth recreation and supplied two fantastic holds for 5-2. The defending champion made one other push on the return in recreation eight and fired a forehand down the road winner.
Thus, he secured a break at love and moved nearer to the highest after three hours and 11 minutes. Nadal had no room for errors within the fourth set, but he made them within the eighth recreation! The Spaniard stood on the verge of defeat and bounced again brilliantly.
Rafa defended three break factors with winners and wrapped up the sport to stay on the constructive aspect after 4 hours on the clock! The rain interrupted the match, and it continued beneath a closed roof at Rod Laver Area. Nadal served to remain within the match at 5-6.
He stored his focus and introduced it dwelling at love with a forehand winner for extra drama. Novak stepped in on the return at 2-3 and cast a 5-3 benefit with a forehand down the road winner. The Spaniard discovered himself two factors from a painful defeat.
Nonetheless, he endured and locked the end result at 5-5 after the rival’s unfastened forehand. Rafa rattled off 4 factors and stole the breaker 7-5, celebrating on his knees and forcing a decider after 4 hours and 40 minutes!
They served effectively within the opening 5 video games, staying neck and neck. Nadal delivered a break within the sixth recreation after forcing Djokovic’s mistake, forging a 4-2 benefit and shifting nearer to his second Australian Open crown.
Rafa led 30-15 within the seventh recreation and will have earned two recreation factors. Nonetheless, he missed a routine backhand and suffered a vital break that allowed Novak to bounce again. The Spaniard confronted points on serve within the ninth recreation.
He saved a break level with a service winner and closed the sport with one other for a 5-4 benefit. The Serb closed the tenth recreation with a service winner, extending the drama because the duel approached the seventh hour!
Nadal cracked beneath stress at 5-5. He missed a slice on the second break level and despatched Djokovic 6-5 in entrance. The defending champion served for the title in recreation 12 and confronted a break level after one other grueling alternate.
Novak attacked along with his backhand and drew a pressured error from the opposite aspect. Rafa missed a backhand and confronted a match level. Djokovic seized it with a cracking forehand winner, beginning an enormous celebration after one of many biggest matches of all time.
