Djokovic Defeats Nadal in Australian Open Final
Novak Djokovic outlasted Rafael Nadal in longest finals match ever…
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic outlasted Rafael Nadal early Sunday in a record setting five set match to win his third Australian Open title 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5. The 24 year-old from Serbia also won his third straight major title after an epic match that lasted 5 hours, 53 minutes (the longest singles final in professional tennis history).
Rafael Nadal, the second ranked player in the world has lost seven straight matches to Djokovic who will remain ranked in the number one position. Djokovic is coming off a 2011 season where he went 70-6 in singles matches and made $12,619,803 in prize money.
A day earlier Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova to claim the Australian Open Women’s title winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.
The Australian Open festivities drew over 696,000 spectators during the two week event.
