I knew Novak Djokovic would beat Rafael Nadal to defend his title at the 2012 Australian Open….I just didn’t realize it would be in a 5 hour and 53 minute match that required Rafa to literally choke in the fifth set. Novak was down 2-4 in the fifth set, but rallied back to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5. It was only the third final at the Australian Open to go to a fifth set, behind Pat Cash and Mats Wilander in 1988 and Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in 2009, but this one will live in the history books as the longest Grand Slam Final in history.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again, the only man on the men’s side that has a legitimate threat to Roger Federer’s records is Novak Djokovic, as it appears that Rafael Nadal has found his own kryptonite in the game. The critical test in the match was second serve, with Djokovic operating at 64 percent to Nadal’s 45, which was similar to Nadal last two Grand Slam defeats to Novak last year at Wimbledon and the US Open. After Djokovic found his way back into the fifth set that was almost wrapped up with a pretty blue bow for Nadal, it was Nadal to net a backhand to allow Djokovic to serve out the match.
Novak is now the fourth male since Rod Laver in 1969 to claim three consecutive majors – Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer (who has done it twice) are the others.
Yes, my friends, 2012 looks to be a spectacular year of tennis. We now move to the US hard courts and then to the European clay in the spring….who stops Novak Djokovic’s reign….nobody knows.
