Super Sunday: Djokovic sets up 53rd career clash with Nadal
When Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal take to the courts on Sunday in the Aussie Open final, it will not be a battle between strange bed fellows but that between arch rivals.
It would mark the 53rd career clash between two ambitious and determined players who have learnt not to underrate each other but have learnt to take every meeting as a serious business that must be given all the attention it deserves.
Djokovic was evidently keen to go better than Rafael Nadal when it came to dishing out hammerings in the Australian Open semi-finals.
With the Spaniard having allowed Stefanos Tsitsipas just six games on Thursday, the world No 1 followed up with a 6-0 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Frenchman Lucas Pouille, Friday
It took just 82 minutes, which was 24 minutes shorter than Nadal’s match as they set up what will be their 53rd career meeting in Sunday’s final.
For Djokovic it will be a 24th Major final, and for Nadal a 25th.
Their 2012 encounter on the Rod Laver Arena was the longest championship match ever at a Grand Slam, taking five hours and 53 minutes, and there is no reason to think that it will be anything other than one more tight encounter
Coach Amelie Mauresmo could only look on helplessly as Djokovic ripped into the Frenchman’s serve, breaking him seven times in all as he displayed his sharpest form.
It was disappointing fare for the crowd in terms of a contest, even though this was a masterclass from the Serb, who cuts a completely different figure to the one who lost here last year to Korea’s Hyeon Chung.
Djokovic made only five unforced errors in all, and the Frenchman could not wait to get off court afterwards.
‘It’s definitely one of the best matches I’ve ever had on this court,’ pronounced Djokovic. ‘Everything worked the way I imagined it. It’s a tough one for Lucas but he had a good tournament.
‘It was highly unlikely 12 months ago that I would here a year later but I always have plenty of belief in myself. That’s the key.’
Looking ahead to his meeting with Nadal he added that he doubted it would be a marathon of historic proportions. ‘I would definitely want to buy a ticket for that match.
‘We have slightly different rules this year (the shot clock and super tie-break) so I don’t think we will go that far.’