This was meant to be the match of the year. It was supposed to be a battle between two tennis titans. But, it was anything but. Novak Djokovic took home his seventh Australian Open title after stunning Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 to win.
This takes the Serb’s career count against the Spaniard to 28–25 and takes him to 15 career Grand Slam wins, moving into third place behind Roger Federer’s 20 titles and Nadal’s 17.
Make that Grand Slam titles for @DjokerNole.#AusOpen #AusOpenFinal pic.twitter.com/1BpM5da0cd
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2019
31-year-old Djokovic, dominant throughout the match didn’t give Nadal even an inch of playing room, completely outclassing and outplaying the latter during their 53rd meeting.
Nadal, who until the final had an amazing campaign and didn’t drop a single set in the tournament was left completely dumbfounded by Djokovic’s ‘level’ of play.
On his loss, Nadal said: “Novak’s level was amazing tonight. I have had some tough moments [in the] past 12 months, nine events, and not able to finish two of them, including this one. If tonight was not my night, it is important for me to be where I am today, coming back from injury. I really believed [this was] a great two weeks of tennis. I’m going to keep fighting hard.”
“To be standing here and win three out of [the last] four slams, is amazing. I’m speechless. Obviously, it was a tough match for you [Nadal]. You have been unfortunate throughout your career to have so many injuries, but you show what is the definition of the fighting spirit,” Djokovic said after winning the match.
This was the first time Rafael Nadal lost a Grand Slam final in straight sets.
Rafa has never lost a Grand Slam final in straight sets.
Will @DjokerNole change that?#AusOpen #AusOpenFinal pic.twitter.com/OMIzxCsQXh
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2019
Their last meeting at the Australian Open finals in 2012, saw Djokovic win in 5 hours, 53 minutes, and it is till date the longest Grand Slam final in history.
This win takes Djokovic to three straight grand slam wins, following Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018. He previously won in Melbourne in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, along with four at Wimbledon, three at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open.
