Some tennis matches are remembered for the quality of shots, while others stay in memory because of the sheer determination shown by the players. The 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and
Rafael Nadal had both. In a contest that lasted five hours and 53 minutes, Djokovic survived one of the toughest challenges of his career to defeat Nadal and retain his Melbourne crown.
The two players entered the final as the world’s top-ranked stars, with Djokovic at No. 1 and Nadal at No. 2. They had already developed a great rivalry, having met in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open in 2011, with Djokovic winning both encounters. Their meeting in Melbourne offered another opportunity for Nadal to stop his rival’s run.
Novak Djokovic edges Rafael Nadal in marathon Australian Open Final after Five hours and 53 minutes
The Spaniard made a strong start, taking the opening set 7-5 after breaking Djokovic’s serve. However, the Serbian gradually found his rhythm and began controlling the rallies from the baseline. Djokovic took the second set 6-4 before raising his level further to win the third 6-2. Just when Djokovic appeared close to victory, Nadal fought back. Trailing by a break in the fourth set, the Spaniard showed the resilience that had become his trademark. He forced a tie-break and won it 7-5 to take the match into a deciding fifth set.
The longest chapter in their 60-part rivalry. Djokovic v Nadal, the Australian Open 2012 final 🏆 #rematch https://t.co/w2Ya51dHiB
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) July 29, 2024
The final set produced some of the most memorable moments of the contest. Nadal moved into a 4-2 lead and looked capable of turning the match around, but Djokovic refused to surrender. Both players were visibly exhausted, yet neither was willing to give away an inch. During a 31-shot rally exchange, Djokovic eventually fell onto his back after chasing down Nadal’s shots. The point became one of the defining images of the match, reflecting just how much both players were putting into the contest.
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Djokovic eventually broke Nadal’s serve to lead 6-5 before holding his own serve to seal a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 victory. The final lasted five hours and 53 minutes, making it the longest Grand Slam singles final in history at the time. It finished at 1:37 am local time. The victory gave Djokovic his third Australian Open title and fifth Grand Slam crown overall. It was also his third consecutive major title, following his Wimbledon and US Open triumphs in 2011. He finished with 57 winners, compared to Nadal’s 44, while converting seven of his 20 break-point opportunities.
