Major win
Novak Djokovic wins third Australian Open,
Novak Djokovic started 2012 the same way he started his epic 2011 season: with a victory in the Australian Open. But it wasn’t easy.
Djokovic wore down Rafael Nadal in the longest major singles final ever, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 after 5 hours, 53 minutes to claim his third Australian Open title.
Djokovic wrapped it up at 1:37 a.m. Melbourne time Monday (9:37 a.m. ET Sunday), becoming the fifth man (joining Nadal, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver) since the Open era began in 1968 to win three consecutive Grand Slam tournament finals. Nadal has been his victim in each (Wimbledon, U.S. Open and now the Australian Open), the first man in the Open era with that dubious honor.
Just minutes earlier, at 4-4 in an electrifying fifth set, an exhausted Djokovic collapsed with his arms and legs spread wide after losing a 31-shot rally — the longest of the match. He seemed barely able to pick himself and his racket up, but he somehow lifted himself for one last push to victory.
Djokovic, 24, tore off his shirt in celebration. He went to his support camp and repeatedly thumped the side of the arena in front of them in delight and relief. As the players waited for the trophy presentation, Nadal leaned on the net while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually, a nearby official brought them chairs and water.
“We made history tonight, and unfortunately there couldn’t be two winners,” said Djokovic, the winner of five Grand Slam titles and four of the last five majors.
Having reduced Roger Federer to tears when he won the title in five sets in 2009, Nadal managed to maintain his composure during the on-court speeches, even managing a joke. “Good morning, everybody,” Nadal said, earning laughs and loud applause.
“I think we played a great tennis match. I enjoyed being part of this event and this match,” Nadal continued. “I am not happy to lose the final, yes, but that’s one of the losses that I am more happy (about) in my career.”
A tense, error-strewn opening set offered no indication of the high drama to follow. In hot, humid conditions, Nadal, trying to step up to the baseline to take the initiative, took it after 80 minutes — two minutes short of the entire women’s final the previous day.
Nadal had lost one match in his previous 134 in Grand Slams when winning the first set, but he found his serve coming under increasing pressure as the match wore on. Djokovic earned breaks in the second and third sets and seemed to be in complete control.
In the fourth set, down and nearly out, Nadal dug in, salvaging the tiebreaker — even after a 10-minute delay while the roof closed as rain began. The tennis, almost unbelievably, improved in the fifth set as the match ticked past five hours.
Nadal missed chances, including an errant backhand serving at 30-15 and leading 4-2 in the fifth set, and made 71 errors to 44 winners (to 69 and 57 for Djokovic). And ultimately, as he did throughout his 2011 season, Djokovic prevailed.
“It’s just incredible effort. You’re in pain,” Djokovic said. “You’re trying to activate your legs. You’re going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding. Everything is just outrageous, but you’re still enjoying that pain.” Some numbers to consider: -Djokovic is 7-0 in 2012 (he won three matches in an exhibition but had played no official 2012 matches before Melbourne). In 2011, he began 41-0, was 64-2 (with three majors) through the U.S. Open and 70-6 with 10 titles overall.
-Djokovic has beaten Nadal seven times in a row, all in finals, and he narrowed his record against Nadal to 14-16. The next big proving ground will be Indian Wells, Calif., and Key Biscyane, Fla., in March. Djokovic is the defending champ at both, defeating Nadal in the finals.
-The previous longest major final was Mats Wilander’s win vs. Ivan Lendl in the U.S. Open in 1988, which lasted 4 hours, 54 minutes.