TENNIS:NOVAK DJOKOVIC beat aching limbs, a briefly wavering spirit and one of the bravest fighters in the history of the game to hang on to his Australian Open title yesterday with his seventh successive victory over Rafael Nadal in surely the best performance of his career.

It was their third consecutive final in a major championship and lasted five hours and 53 minutes, longer by almost an hour than the previous longest match in a Grand Slam final, the four hours and 54 minutes Ivan Lendl took to beat Mats Wilander at the 1988 US Open.

It was also the longest match in the history of this tournament, beating Nadal’s five hours and 14 minutes semi-final win over Fernando Verdasco three years ago. It was also one of the best.

The Serb won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5. Before this match Nadal was 133-1 in Grand Slam matches after taking the first set, some record of getting on top and staying there, but not last night, not against Djokovic in this mood. And what we witnessed was a match that went from poor to better to almost beyond belief.

An enduring image was that of the finalists, seated and exhausted, stone-faced side by side sucking on bottles of water, as the presentation speeches droned on. “Good morning everybody,” were Nadal’s first words. “And congratulations to Novak. He deserved it. I will come back here a lot of years and will keep fighting.”

Djokovic, shattered, kept it brief too. “First of all, Rafa, you are one of the best players ever, one of the most respected on the Tour. We made history tonight. Unfortunately there couldn’t be two winners. I hope we will have many more matches like this, many more finals.”

What a battle Djokovic had – against Nadal, his battered body and, sadly, those in the crowd who gave him little encouragement against their favourite, until they forgot their allegiances in the heat of an astonishing finish.

There were suspicions that Djokovic had left his legs in the semi-final, that four hours and 50 minutes marathon against Andy Murray two nights previously. Nadal, too, began nervously. The mix of torpor and tension made for a ragged spectacle in the first set. As they warmed to the job, the level improved almost game by game.

Djokovic looked weary and out of sorts, as he had done before storming back against Lleyton Hewitt, David Ferrer and Murray.

Nadal took the first set comfortably and there was a hint he would steamroller his nemesis. As the match went from unimpressive to attritional Nadal timed an explosion perfectly, rattling a winner down the forehand side for another break opportunity. Djokovic obliged with an overhit reply.

When Nadal served out the set, 7-5, courtesy of Djokovic’s 19th unforced error, after an hour and 20 minutes, the frame was eight minutes shorter than the third between Murray and Djokovic.

Djokovic found a second wind and put pressure on Nadal, breaking him to go 4-1 up and punishing him on his serve returns, before taking the second set.

He remained in charge in the third, pinning Nadal deep on service and bossing him in open play. The standard rose in the fourth. Nadal saved three break points in breathtaking style to level at 4-4 and the result was in doubt again. Shortly before midnight the clouds spat on Melbourne Park and the roof rolled across a now engrossed audience.

When the players returned after a brief interval the fans sensed the Nadal fightback was gathering strength. He did not let them down and they went to a tie-break, where Nadal held a 6-2 advantage over Djokovic. Make that 7-2. There were more astonishing shots in this tie-break than in some entire matches.

When would it end and how? The first twist was in the sixth game, when Djokovic hit long and Nadal went 4-2 up, his veins nearly bursting in exaltation. Then came another wicked turn, Djokovic breaking back when Nadal hit long. It was back on serve with the line a little closer.

There followed a rare sight: a standing ovation for a single point. When Djokovic hit long after a 32-shot rally of exquisite quality.

Nadal smelt blood buthe had to survive break point to hold. Now Djokovic had to serve to survive. The champion wasted one break point in the 11th game, hitting long under pressure, but Nadal sliced a backhand into the net.

Djokovic’s body was shouting at him but mentally he was phenomenal.Serving for the match, he had to save a break point after botching a smash and a backhand return. Following a good serve down the middle, he put away Nadal’s return with admirable coolness in such a fiery environment, threw down his sodden shirt and embraced his friends at courtside.

Djokovic and Nadal are said not to be close but maybe they are just a little closer after this shared experience.

Guardian Service