The tennis Open Era's most prolific rivalry serves up its latest installment as modern day greats Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battle it out Down Under in the Australian Open 2019 final. Follow the action from Melbourne here.
Rod Laver Arena is the amphitheater for two Gladiators of the sport, and the respective world number one and two, to write another chapter of their storied history.
27 January 2019
Thanks for joining us!
There you have it. History made in Melbourne in the most dominant fashion. Thanks for tuning in to RT Sport's live update coverage of the Australian Open 2019, where Novak Djokovic win his record seventh title in straight sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 against Spanish legend Rafael Nadal.
Seventh Heaven
Standing proud with his seventh Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, Djokovic now holds three of the four Grand Slam trophies with last year's US Open and Wimbledon titles under his belt, this his seventh at age 31, his first came at only 20 when a young pro on the circuit. Eleven years later, he makes history in the same Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic, now a seven-time champion at Melbourne and 15-time Grand Slam winner overall, calls Nadal the "definition of fighting spirit and resilience". Clearly overwhelmed by the event, Djoker pays tribute to his family, parents, brothers, team and his watching wife and children back home, promises never to take them for granted, and agrees with Nadal that the tournament is "probably the best int he world". Says to the organizers: "you make all of us players feel like at home", before coming out with Australian slang "bonze" in response to a supportive heckler.
Rafa Nadal full of thanks and praise for his team, the fans and organizers at Melbourne Park, which he claims is perhaps "the best in the world" and full of congratulations not least for opponent Djokovic, whom he commends greatly.
Respect
Outplayed but not outclassed: it wasn't Rafael Nadal's day today, but the respect is evident between the two best players in the world. Imperious performance from Novak Djokovic, who needs just over two hours to dispatch the world number two.
History is made!
Nadal fires long to gift Djokovic his seventh Australian Open title, the most of any male player in history, in straight sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena, recording just nine errors through the whole match, Nadal not having revered from his jittery start.
Two championship points
Poor first service from Nadal against the first seed and favorite and the man within touching distance of the 2019 championship, which will be his seventh. Running out of superlatives to describe Djokovic's dominance here.
Djokovic 5-2* Nadal
Nadal springs into life and forces a Djokovic backhand wide in a rally, but Djokovic wins the next two points to win the game and become within a game to win the championship. Still unbroken in his service game.
Djokovic 4-2 Nadal*
Nadal squanders break point at 40-30 to give Djokovic a way back in, which he takes by clinching his advantage. Wild celebrations from the six-time champion, he knows he's only a hair's bredth away from a record seventh title at Melbourne Park.
Nadal bags an ace to open the next game by the slimmest of margins which is called and lost by Djokovic. Nadal must win this game you feel to stay int he championship match.
It's looking ever more likely...
Nadal claws a game back in the third to trail 3-2 to Djokovic, needing a miracle in this match to not lose in straight sets to the world number one
Djokovic 3-1* Nadal
Djokovic unsurprisingly holds serve, Nadal looks like his heart is broken on court. Strange and sad to see, but Djokovic is putting on a clinic here and making the most of the most off of off days from Nadal.
Here's what the fans say:
Nadal 1-0* Djokovic
Unbelievable tennis. Consecutive drop shots from up close at the net from both players, but Djokovic's return from Nadal sees him win the point to make it 30-15. Nadal throwing caution to the wind and grunting for his life.
A botched forehand at the net sees him lobbed and unable to return past the net, but a stunning volley int he next point gives Nadal game point, which he takes to hold serve. Mexican wave gets going in the crowd.
Stat attack
Quick update on some stats and info. Although Rafa Nadal leads Djokovic 9-5 in matches for major titles, Novak has an 11-2 advantage in hard court games. Nadal never lost in straight sets in a major final, but now has recorded a whopping 20 unforced errors to Djokovic’s four.
Djokovic 6-2 Nadal, Djokovic leads 2-0
Djokovic holds love and records two straight aces to set up triple set point, won again with an ace to win the first two sets in just one hour and sixteen minutes. Nadal very uncomfortable out there as Djokovic is putting on a masterclass, and perhaps playing the most dominant tennis of his career at Rod Laver Arena.
Thumbs up, chips down
Beautifully delicate chipped backhand from Nadal lands just over the net and brings an immediate thumbs up from Djokovic. But two tremendous rally wins gives the Serb two break points and when Nadal hits the net, Djokovic has the chance to serve for the second set and take a 2-0 lead. Nadal running out of time to make up for a very jittery start Down Under.
Rafa again wildly overhits a cross-court forehand wide but then compensates by hitting a scorching forehand down the line to win a rally and snatch advantage, and cue huge roar from Novak, then confidently holds his serve to pull away 4-2, and take his advantage. Intense, intimidating tennis from the world number one.
Djokovic 2-2* Nadal
Djokovic 3-2 Nadal
Despite showing better tennis, Rafa still making unforced errors, hitting wide and long when not under pressure. Rafa told by the umpire his shot was "way out" and decides against a challenge, but then replies with an ace. Next point Rafa again gives away break point, then a brilliant rally ends with Rafa hitting a lob over Novak that sails long and agonizingly out to give the Serbian the game and the lead in the set on a cool Melbourne evening.
Wonder what Roger is doing? Some great tennis here from the top one and two. Interesting to know how the current champion feels, who was defeated by wonderkid Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Face of concentration
Djokovic still seems more focussed than Nadal, who falters at the net to gift Novak a point but then pulls back to 30-30 with a beautiful long forehand, then pulls the Serbian over the court, making his slip on the turn to reach a backhand and miss, then blast through to take his game point and hold serve. Nadal finally take the lead in a set as he looks to come from behind against the world's best.
Some confident play from Nadal sees his hold serve at the beginning of the second set to take the first game.
Here's what the fans say as Djokovic leads 1-0
Here's what the fans say as Djokovic leads 1-0
Djokovic takes opening set 6-3
Djokovic takes opening set 6-3
Djokovic drops his first point on serve, just a measure of how focussed the world number one is out there on court. A tough, physically demanding rally measured in intensity by the intensity of grunts from both men. Djokovic hits a beautiful backhand down the line and then Rafa hits the net twice to give Djokovic the set. Tremendous tennis form the six-time champion who is looking to make history in Melbourne on Sunday.
Djokovic *5-3 Nadal
Djokovic *5-3 Nadal
Nadal hits his best forehand of the match to close out the game and hold love to make the match 5-3. Djokovic now serving for the set, but already drops his first point on serve. Djokovic proving to be the matador to Spain's raging Bull but Rafa isn't going down without a fight.
Another look at that Rafa miss, racket seemed to hit his leg as he swung for the ball.
Match opening up here. Another cracking rally opens the game, Djokovic wins it and then forces Nadal to hit wide on the next point. Inexplicably, Nadal misses a simple forehand near the baseline to gift Djokovic a point and then the game. Nadal will be serving to not be broken and let the first set slip, 5-2 now Djokovic leads.
Djokovic *4-2 Nadal
Djokovic *4-2 Nadal
Interesting game, most dramatic of the match so far. Brutal wide serve has Novak over stretching, Nadal playing more aggressively now as he looks to break Djokovic's early dominance, playing closer to the net.
Djokovic challenges a Nadal serve called good and is vindicated, then wins a rally in the next point to draw level at 30-30. The next point sees Djokovic hit the net but Nadal strains to chip over, Novak goes for the lob but Nadal returns a backhand and forces his opponent to hit the net and take the game to save being broken again.
Djoker of the pack
Djoker of the pack
Djokovic again holds love to storm to a 4-1 lead without dropping a point on serve, with an ace thrown in for good measure. Some better tennis from Nadal, but whenever he finds a glimmer of his groove, Djokovic ruthlessly steps up his game and pulls ahead.
Nadal wins first game!
Nadal wins first game!
Having won just one point up until the fourth game, Nadal makes Djokovic overstretch and overhit a forehand from near the backline to rescue break point and take his first game of the championship match.
Grimace and bear it
Grimace and bear it
This picture perhaps sums up the first three game sin the opener for Nadal, as the Spaniard fails to find rhythm against a clinical Djokovic.
Nervey Nadal slips to 3-0* deficit
Nervey Nadal slips to 3-0* deficit
Djokovic is not letting Nadal get into any kind of rhythm, three times hitting wildly out of play. Djokovic races to 3-0 lead in the first set and is laying some very smooth tennis. Nerves seem to be getting the better of Nadal, who hasn’t beaten Djokovic on hard court since the 2013 US Open.
Djokovic takes the first game
Djokovic takes the first game
Djokovic takes the first game with some confident play to bamboozle Nadal and take the first game of the opening set. It may be all smiles here, but these two are fierce competitors when the going gets tough.
We're underway!
We're underway!
Djokovic serving to open the set as the biggest and best men in the game settle down to their battle in Oz.
History on the line
History on the line
Nadal and Djokovic face off today with the chance to etch their names into yet another annal of the game's history. Djokovic can win a record seventh title in Melbourne whereas Nadal could become first men's player in the Open Era to win all four Slams twice.