Novak Djokovic Wins Epic Aussie Open Final

Novak Djokovic joins an illustrious group of players who have won three consecutive Grand Slam title as he successfully defended his Australian Open crown.

But the Serb was made to fight hard for the win by world number two Rafael Nadal as the match went the full five sets and lasted seven minutes shy of six hours; making it the longest Grand Slam final in history.

The win sees Djokovic win his fifth Grand Slam crown and he now joins the likes of Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Nadal to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles.

Nadal lost to Djokovic in six finals last season but brought a more aggressive game to the court in the opening set as he made the first movie in game five.

He broke to lead 3-2 but Djokovic his three games later to level the set at 4-4. But the Spaniard was not to be denied as he broke once again in eleventh before serving it out 7-5.

But Djokovic hit back at the beginning of the second set as he put the Nadal serve under serious pressure. He made the break through in the fourth game to lead 3-1 before consolidating to edge ahead even further.

Nadal did get the set back on serve in the ninth game as a double fault from Djokovic saw him surrender the lead. However Nadal couldn’t make it count as he also double faulted in the next game to give him the break and the set 6-4.

When the world number one broke again at the beginning of the third set to lead 3-1 the momentum was well and truly with him as Nadal’s aggressive levels dropped.

The Spaniard had reverted to play that had seen him beaten six times last season while his serve was not as effective as it had been in the opening set.

Djokovic broke for a second time at the back end of the third set to take it 6-2 and he was now just a set away from retaining his title.

Into the fourth and the crowd were with Nadal as they urged him to get back into the match but it wasn’t until the eighth game that the stalemate was broken.

And it was Djokovic who made his move as he found himself 0-40 on the Nadal serve, if he had taken the game he would have been left serving for the match. But Nadal showed his battling qualities as five fabulous points from him saw him level at 4-4.

A tie break was needed to decide the second set and it was Nadal who battled back once again to come back from a 5-3 mini-break to take it 7-5 - it was a set that had lasted eighty eight minutes.

The momentum had now swung back in the favour of Nadal and it was he who broke first to take a 4-2 lead.

And it looked like he was on his way to a straightforward hold for a 5-2 lead when a wayward forehand saw Djokovic pull level at 30-30 rather than the Spaniard move ahead 40-15.

This seemed to break the concentration of Nadal as he allowed Djokovic to break straight back before holding to level at 4-4.

Nadal held his serve in the ninth game to edge ahead 5-4 and Djokovic had to come out and serve to stay in the match - which he did to level once again.

Djokovic made the decisive move in the eleventh game as he broke Nadal again before serving out the match to win 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-5.

Speaking on court after the win Djokovic said: Rafa is one of best players ever and one of the most respected guys on tour.
 
"Unfortunately there couldn't be two winners and I hope we have many more matches like this."

Djokovic will be looking to complete the career Grand Slam later this year at Roland Garros with a French Open win.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw