Australian Open: Novak Djokovic downs Rafael Nadal for the seventh crown!
In the clash of the titans who have shown by far the most in the last 14 days in Melbourne, the world no. 1 Novak Djokovic took down the 2nd seed Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and four minutes to enter the record books. Nadal hasn't lost a set before the title match and he got broken only twice in the six matches, looking good to win the Australian Open ten years after he did that for the first time. As always, the only problem for the Spaniard rested in the fact that Novak Djokovic is not an ordinary rival, failing to beat him outside clay since the final of the US Open in 2013!
Since Beijing that year, Djokovic has won 13 out of 16 matches against Nadal for complete domination, extending the advantage in head to head encounters to 28-25. Novak is now the most successful player in the Australian Open history with seven titles (the fourth player in the Open era with at least seven titles at a single Slam), leaving Roy Emerson and Roger Federer on six, winning all 14 matches after passing the quarter-final round at Melbourne Park! Also, with 15 Grand Slam titles in his hands, Djokovic has become the third most successful singles players ever at Majors, leaving Pete Sampras on 14 and hunting Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (17), looking good to pass both if he continues to play on this level.
The Serb is the fifth player with three Grand Slam titles after turning 30, joining Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, winning the third Grand Slam title in a row for the third time to top the record charts as the only player who has achieved that in the history of tennis. It was a sublime performance from Djokovic that left Nadal with nothing to change the outcome, as the Serb had the upper hand from the very first point of the match. Novak controlled the pace with a masterclass hitting from both wings, opening the space and forcing Rafa to play far behind the baseline from where he couldn't produce any damage, not even with his mighty forehand that worked like a charm in the previous matches.
Losing serve only twice before the final, the Spaniard was in all kind of troubles as he never found the way to impose his shots and get some free points against the wall on the other side of the net. Like many times before, Nadal was doomed in forehand-to-backhand exchanges that Novak could endure whole day long without losing the pace or momentum, sending missiles from both wings that left Nadal unarmed this night in Melbourne. Nadal's first serve that gave him so many easy points during these two weeks didn't exist in this match, winning miserable 51% of the points after landing it in, playing better on the second serve (!!) but suffering five breaks from eight opportunities he gave to Novak to stay behind all the time.
The Serb was on another level in the serving department, dropping 13 points behind the initial shot and facing only one break point that he successfully defended to keep his games intact and finish the match in the strongest possible way. Novak had 34 winners and jaw-dropping nine unforced errors, dominating from every inch of the court and leaving Nadal on a 21-28 ratio, far from enough for at least one decent set. There were clear signs of disaster for Rafa right from the start, winning one point in the first seven Novak's service games and finding no rhythm on his serve as well, getting broken at 15 in the second game of the match and losing five straight games in set number two to find himself 6-3, 6-2 down in no time at all!
Novak would never waste such a massive advantage while playing on this level and he cemented the win with a double break in set number three for his most dominant triumph over Rafa at Majors and a clear statement he is on Nadal's and Federer's trail in the Grand Slam race before they all retire.
Final result:
[1]Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [2]Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-3 6-2 6-3
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2sQc6k2
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