2012 Australian Open – Men's singles final

Longest Grand Slam final match April 2014 April 2014 2012 Australian Open Men's Final Sunday, 29 January 2012 Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Pascal Maria 5 hours 53 minutes SRB Novak Djokovic ESP Rafael Nadal 5 7 6 4 6 2 65 77 7 5 Novak_Djokovic_CU|130px Rafael_Nadal_Iberia_(cropped)|135px 1 2 Novak Djokovic (left) and Rafael Nadal (right) 2012 Australian Open 2012 Australian Open – Men's singles The 2012 Australian Open Men's Singles final was the championship tennis match of the men's singles tournament at the 2012 Australian Open between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, at the time ranked the number 1 and 2 players in the world, respectively. A defining match in the Djokovic–Nadal rivalry, the Serb defeated the Spaniard 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 7–5 to win the tournament. It was both the longest Australian Open match and the longest major final match (by duration) in history, lasting 5 hours 53 minutes, overtaking the record previously set by the 1988 US Open final between Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl. It is considered by some to be the greatest and most physical tennis match of all time.30 January 2012 Men's Australian Open Final Hailed as Best Match in Tennis History https://www.pedestrian.tv/style/mens-australian-open-final-hailed-as-best-match-in-tennis-history/ pedestrian.tvUbha Ravi 2012-01-29 Djokovic-Nadal tops Open era finals https://www.espn.com/tennis/aus12/story/_/id/7516147/australian-open-novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal-top-open-era-final 2023-06-06 ESPN.com enEckstein Jeremy 2012-02-17 Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal: Why Aussie Open Final Is Greatest Match Ever https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1069718-novak-djokovic-vs-rafael-nadal-why-aussie-open-final-is-greatest-match-ever 2023-06-06 Bleacher Report enCurtis Jake 2014-01-21 Ranking the 10 Greatest Australian Open Finals of All Time https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1929360-ranking-the-10-greatest-australian-open-finals-of-all-time 2023-08-29 Bleacher Report enBowers Chris https://archive.org/details/novakdjokovicris0000bowe/page/227 Novak Djokovic and the Rise of Serbia: The Sporting Statesman John Blake Publishing 2014 978-1-78219-770-6 227 enTignor Steve 2019-12-05 Men's Match of the Decade No. 2: Djokovic d. Nadal, 2012 Aussie Open https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/men-s-match-of-the-decade-no-2-djokovic-d-nadal-2012-aussie-open 2023-06-06 Tennis.com en 2022-11-27 The Best Grand Slam Matches of All Time https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/21495 2024-06-01 World Tennis Magazine en-US With both players at their highest levels, the match was regarded as a war of attrition with impeccable quality throughout the duration of play.Sokolowski Alexandre 2023-01-29 The day Djokovic beat Nadal in the longest Australian Open final https://www.tennismajors.com/australian-open-news/january-30-2012-the-day-novak-djokovic-beat-rafael-nadal-in-the-longest-australian-open-final-317708.html 2023-06-15 Tennis Majors en-US It was the only time that Nadal lost a major final after winning the first set.2012-01-29 Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Epic 2012 Australian Open Final https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovic-nadal-australian-open-2012-final 2022-06-03 ATP TourNovak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal: The Rivalry, Matches 21-30 http://www.atptour.com/en/news/Rivalries-Nadal-Djokovic-21-To-30 2024-01-28 ATP Tour en The defeat also marks the first, and so far only, time that a man has lost in three consecutive major finals (with Djokovic defeating Nadal in the preceding Wimbledon and US Open finals).Passa Dennis 2012-01-29 Djokovic's Aussie Open championship hinged on one crucial error by Nadal https://www.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2012/01/30/djokovic-s-aussie-open-championship/49753165007/ 2024-06-03 Pocono Record en-USMost consecutive Grand Slam singles final losses by a man https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/546196-most-consecutive-grand-slam-singles-final-losses-by-a-man 2024-06-02 Guinness World Records2020-10-11 The History Of Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam Finals http://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovic-nadal-rivalry-grand-slam-finals 2024-06-02 ATP Tour en Before this final, Djokovic had played an epic semifinal match against the world No. 4 and Australian Open runner-up of the previous two years, Andy Murray, which also went five sets, lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes.https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1069718-novak-djokovic-vs-rafael-nadal-why-aussie-open-final-is-greatest-match-ever Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal: Why Aussie Open Final Is Greatest Match Ever 17 February 2012 Jeremy Eckstein Bleacher Report 2 February 2015http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/6340303/Australian-Open-final-the-greatest-match-ever Australian Open final the greatest match ever? 31 January 2012 Sydney Morning Herald Stuff.co.nz 2 February 2015 Background Heading into the match, Djokovic and Nadal were the top two players in the world, with Djokovic coming off of his breakthrough 2011 season, considered one of the greatest seasons ever. Djokovic went 6–0 in matches against Nadal in the 2011 season, all in finals in Big Title events. Djokovic was a two-time titlist at the Australian Open, in 2008 and 2011, and therefore was the defending champion, while Nadal had previously won the Australian Open in 2009. It was Nadal's fourth consecutive major final, which he would later extend to his personal best of five straight at the 2012 French Open,Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Grand Slam Final Streak https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=GrandSlamFinalStreak 2024-06-19 www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com and also marked one of the three times that Nadal reached consecutive hardcourt major finals.Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Rafael Nadal https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/playerProfile?playerId=4742&level=G&surface=H&result=F%2B&tab=events 2024-06-19 www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com On the other hand, it was Djokovic's third consecutive major final, later extending it to four at the 2012 French Open. Djokovic won his first three matches in straight sets, dropping only one set in the fourth round to former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Lleyton Hewitt, who was a wildcard. Djokovic then beat No. 5 David Ferrer in the quarterfinals in straight sets, No. 4 and Australian Open runner-up of the previous two years, Andy Murray, in a marathon match in the semifinals, which went to five sets and lasted almost five hours,2012-01-27 Djokovic through to final https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2012/1/27/djokovic-through-to-final-after-epic-battle 2024-02-06 Al Jazeera en and which was described as the then match of the tournament.Batlle Luis 2012-01-27 Murray vs. Djokovic: Score, Recap and Highlights from Australian Open Semifinal https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1041464-murray-vs-djokovic-score-recap-and-highlights-from-australian-open-semifinal 2024-02-06 Bleacher Report en Heading into the match, Nadal had won his first four matches in straight-sets, including over Feliciano López in the fourth round who was No. 19 in the world. In the quarterfinals, he beat a peaking Tomáš Berdych in four sets, 2012-01-24 Australian Open: Nadal d. Berdych https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/australian-open-nadal-d-berdych 2024-02-06 Tennis.com en who was No. 7 in the world, in a match lasting over four hours, and then defeated former four-time Australian Open titlist Roger Federer in the semifinals in four sets, who was No. 3 in the world and riding a 24-match winning streak coming into the match, in a match lasting just under four hours,Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Roger Federer https://ultimatetennisstatistics.com/playerProfile?playerId=3819&tab=matches&outcome=played&fromDate=16-09-2011&toDate=16-01-2012 2024-02-06 ultimatetennisstatistics.com with both matches being described as high-quality affairs.Cohn Jeff 2012-10-01 Why the Australian Open Was the Best Slam of 2012 https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1354174-why-the-australian-open-was-the-best-slam-of-2012 2024-02-06 Bleacher Report en Heading into the final, Nadal was attempting to avoid becoming the first man to lose three consecutive major finals in the Open Era, while Djokovic was aiming to become the fifth man after Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Federer and Nadal to win three majors in a row. 2012-01-29 Go Figure: Australian Open men's final https://www.si.com/tennis/2012/01/29/go-figure-ausralian-open-mens-final 2024-02-06 Sports Illustrated en-us Match Nadal won the first set 7–5, gaining a break of serve after a long attritional battle. The second set was equally close, with Djokovic breaking first, losing the advantage, and breaking back to win the set 6–4 and level the match at one set each. The third set was the shortest of the match, as Djokovic broke Nadal twice to take the set 6–2. Nevertheless, it was a grueling set that ran 45 minutes, longer than an average set. In this set, Djokovic dropped only two points on serve and broke again in game eight with a crushing forehand to lead for the first time.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/16773908 Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in Australian Open final BBC Sport 29 January 2012 Nadal won the fourth set tiebreak, 7–5 after trailing within the set and also down during the closely contested tiebreak; Djokovic had led 5–3 before Nadal took the next four points. The final set saw a return of the intense play seen in the opening sets. Nadal broke in the sixth game to take a 4–2 lead; Djokovic then broke back to level at 4–4. Finally, Djokovic made a decisive break of serve to win what is, in terms of duration, both the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era and also the longest match in the history of the Australian Open. The match finished at 1:37 am the following morning.https://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news;_ylt=AvXD5NaQsyZDcZW4Ke51.Ss4v7YF?slug=ap-australianopen Djokovic has that unbeatable feeling 30 January 2012 4 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251204145000/https://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news;_ylt=AvXD5NaQsyZDcZW4Ke51.Ss4v7YF?slug=ap-australianopen dead Due to exhaustion, both players were given chairs to sit during the trophy presentation speeches.Chase Chris Djokovic and Nadal could barely stand during awards presentation https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/tennis-busted-racquet/djokovic-nadal-could-barely-stand-during-awards-presentation-151440668.html Yahoo sports 29 January 2012 25 October 2020 Despite Djokovic being the slight favorite to win the match beforehand, the favorite fluctuated throughout the match, with Djokovic and Nadal switching being the favorite throughout the match.Klaassen Franc https://books.google.com/books?id=3a7DAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA42 Analyzing Wimbledon: The Power of Statistics Magnus Jan R. Oxford University Press 2014 978-0-19-935595-2 42–43 en Djokovic and Nadal about the match After the match, Nadal said that "His [Djokovic's] return probably is one of the best in history" and "[He makes it] almost every time".https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/9047456/Australian-Open-2012-Novak-Djokovic-beats-Rafael-Nadal-in-five-set-near-six-hour-Melbourne-classic.html Australian Open 2012: Novak Djokovic wins battle of endurance to beat Rafael Nadal in near six-hour epic 2 February 2015 London The Daily Telegraph Simon Briggs 29 January 2012 "This one was very special," Nadal said. "But I really understand that was a really special match, and probably a match that's going to be in my mind not because I lost, no, because the way that we played." Nadal also stated that "Physically it was the toughest match I ever played, if not tougher. I am tired".Schroeder Scott 2012-01-29 Australian Open 2012: Rafael Nadal Reflects On Losing 'Toughest Match' https://www.sbnation.com/tennis/2012/1/29/2756320/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-2012-australian-open-mens-final 2024-02-05 www.sbnation.com en Djokovic said, "It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies, we made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners".https://www.espn.com/tennis/aus12/story/_/id/7515950/2012-australian-open-novak-djokovic-outlasts-rafael-nadal-longest-grand-slam-final Longest Men's Singles Championship Final 30 January 2012 ESPN Sports In 2020, Djokovic reiterated that the match was the most grueling and physically exhausting match he ever played.Sriram Sanjay 2020-08-03 The 2012 Australian Open finals against Nadal will be hard to repeat: Novak Djokovic https://firstsportz.com/the-2012-australian-open-finals-against-nadal-will-be-hard-to-repeat-says-novak-djokovic-atp-tennis-news/ 2024-02-02 FirstSportz en-US Reactions Former world No. 1 Pete Sampras expressed that the match was "by far the greatest match [he] ever saw. Incredible performances from both guys".Simpraga Uros 11 January 2018 Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal. Australian Open 2012 - Perfect Tennis https://www.perfect-tennis.com/novak-djokovic-vs-rafael-nadal-australian-open-2012/ 7 June 2023 perfect-tennis.com Former world No. 1 Andre Agassi said, "I think this was the best tennis match ever in the men's game". Former world No. 1 Björn Borg said that "It showed what it takes to beat this top group of players. Truly fantastic match to watch. One of the greatest I’ve ever seen." The tennis historian Steve Flink is quoted as saying to World Tennis that "This was definitely one of the greatest matches of all time – easily one of the ten best since the Open Era of tennis started in 1968."Curtis Jake 21 January 2015 Ranking the Most Exciting Matches in Australian Open History https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332538-ranking-the-most-exciting-matches-in-australian-open-history 7 June 2023 Bleacher Report Many congratulated both players for playing the greatest match ever witnessed, and news media also commented on the incredible quality of the match,29 January 2012 Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal: Players & pundits hail 'greatest' match https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/16781690 9 September 2013 BBC Sport with sports broadcaster Russell Fuller stating that it was the "most physical and intense sporting event I have ever witnessed".Newbery Piers 2013-06-06 Djokovic v Nadal: The six best duels https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/22801905 2024-06-02 BBC Sport en-GB Simon Briggs, writing for The Daily Telegraph, stated "It was certainly the longest, surely the hardest and arguably the greatest Grand Slam final in history."Briggs Simon 29 January 2012 Australian Open 2012: Novak Djokovic wins battle of endurance to beat Rafael Nadal in near six-hour epic https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/9047456/Australian-Open-2012-Novak-Djokovic-beats-Rafael-Nadal-in-five-set-near-six-hour-Melbourne-classic.html 28 January 2024 The Telegraph Tennis journalist Scoop Malinowski expressed that "This match was beyond comprehension. I've never seen such an epic display of such talent, stamina and ferocity over the course of six hours".Malinowski Scoop 29 January 2012 Superhuman Djokovic Terminates The Raging Bull In Epic Clash Of Titans https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/superhuman-djokovic-repels-the-raging-bull-in-epic-clash-of-titans/ 2 February 2024 tennis-prose.com The final is widely considered to be the greatest hard-court match ever played.Marzorati Gerald 2020-10-11 Rafael Nadal's French Open Victory Over Novak Djokovic Extends Tennis's Best Rivalry https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/rafael-nadals-french-open-victory-over-novak-djokovic-extends-tenniss-best-rivalry 2024-05-29 The New Yorker en-US 0028-792X Legacy This match is central to the Djokovic–Nadal rivalry. Not only was this the longest Grand Slam final, but according to Tennis Channel and the Australian Open TV networks, this was one of the most-watched finals, despite ending late into the night locally.2012-01-30 Tennis epic tops TV ratings https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-30/aus-open-final-wins-ratings-battle/3800050 2024-02-02 ABC News en-AUSpencer Nick https://books.google.com/books?id=kL6TyAahC5oC&pg=PA12 Specialist Journalism Routledge 2013 978-0-415-58284-1 Turner Barry 12 en Orange Richard It was the first and only Grand Slam final that Nadal has lost after winning the first set. At the time, it was Nadal's second loss in a Grand Slam match after winning the first set, with his then record slipping to 133–2. As a result of the loss, Nadal became the first man to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the Open Era, all to Djokovic. Djokovic became the fifth man to win three Grand Slams in a row. It also remains the longest match of both Nadal and Djokovic's careers. In 2015, Nadal chose the final as his favorite memory at the Australian Open over his win in 2009.Rafa Nadal Chat: Australian Open motivation & memories 2015-01-08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zayc_rOHDgo 2024-02-06 en In 2022, Casper Ruud, a fan of Nadal, stated that if there was one match in the history of tennis he could change, it would be the final in favor of Nadal.Jacobs Shahida 2022-11-23 Rafael Nadal jokes Casper Ruud will have to 'call' Novak Djokovic if he wants to change result of epic final https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/rafael-nadal-jokes-casper-ruud-call-novak-djokovic-change-result-epic-final 2024-02-02 Tennis365 en-US In 2023, it was listed by Tennis.com as one of the key matches in the "GOAT race" for most Grand Slam titles between the Big Three.Tignor Steve 2023-06-28 Moment 6: At 1:37 a.m., Djokovic topples Nadal in grandiose, grunt-filled Australian Open epic https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/moment-6-1-37-a-m-djokovic-topples-nadal-grandiose-grunt-filled-australian-open 2024-02-03 Tennis.com en Statistics Category Djokovic Nadal 1st serve % 98 of 166 = 59%137 of 203 = 67% Winning % on 1st serve67 of 98 = 68% 90 of 137 = 66% Winning % on 2nd serve43 of 68 = 63% 30 of 66 = 45% Aces 910 Double faults2 4 Winners57 44 Unforced errors69 71 Winners-UFE-12 -27 Receiving points won83 of 203 = 41% 56 of 166 = 34% Break point conversions 7 of 20 = 35%4 of 6 = 67% Net approaches 23 of 31 = 74%16 of 19 = 84% Total points won193 176 Fastest serve 202 km/h204 km/h Average 1st serve speed190 km/h 183 km/h Average 2nd serve speed150 km/h 136 km/h Source See also Djokovic–Nadal rivalry 2008 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles final Longest tennis match records References External links Match details at the official ATP site Djokovic–Nadal head-to-head at the official ATP site Full match on YouTube Extended highlights on YouTube Men's Singles Men's Singles 2012 Category:Novak Djokovic tennis matches Category:Rafael Nadal tennis matches