This year’s Australian Open final will continue the most extensive rivalry in the history of men’s tennis between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The two will clash for a record 53rd time in Melbourne Park. So far in their rivalry, they have faced each other in 25 finals on the ATP Tour. Eight of which has been in the final of a major. Djokovic currently boasts a 27-25 advantage in their head-to-head. He has also won their seven most recent meetings on a hard-court. However, their last was at the 2016 Indian Wells Masters. Since then, Nadal has triumphed twice on clay and Djokovic has won on both clay and grass.
Besides the renewal in what is one of the biggest rivalries in the history of tennis, here are five records that could be broken during their latest meeting on Sunday.
Lucky No.7 for Djokovic?
14 years ago at Melbourne Park was where it all started for Novak Djokovic’s grand slam career. At the age of 17 he took on Marat Safin in the first round, winning just three games in the match. Since then, the Serbian player has established himself as one of the most successful players in the history of the tournament by winning it no less than six times.
Should Djokovic prevail once again on Sunday, he will become the first man in history to claim a seventh title. Surpassing a record he currently shares with Roger Federer and Roy Emerson. He is already one of two male players in history to participate in seven Australian Open finals, along with Federer.
Run to 2019 final
R1: 6-3 6-2 6-2 Kreuger
R2: 6-3 7-5 6-4 Tsonga
R3: 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-0 Shapovalov
R4: 6-4 6-7 6-2 6-3 Medvedev
QF: 6-1 4-1 RET Nishikori
SF: 6-0 6-2 6-2 Pouille
Nadal’s perfect run
Entering the Australian Open with a series of injury concerns over his head, Nadal has proven that he is back to top form. So far in the tournament he is yet to drop a set. The biggest threat he faced was Tomer Berdych in the fourth round, who took him to a tiebreaker in the third set.
Run to 2019 final
R1: 6-4 6-3 7-5 Duckworth
R2: 6-3 6-2 6-2 Ebden
R3: 6-1 6-2 6-4 De Minaur
R4: 6-0 6-1 7-6 Berdych
QF: 6-3 6-4 6-2 Tiafoe
SF: 6-2 6-4 6-0 Tsitsipas
Should Nadal defeat Djokovic in straight sets, which he hasn’t done in a major since the 2008 French Open, he would become the first man in the Open Era to win four grand slam titles without dropping a set. In Australian Open history, Ken Rosewall (1971) and Federer (2007) are the only two players to have achieved that record in the men’s draw.
The over 30s
The clash between 31-year-old Djokovic and 32-year-old Nadal has ensured that a player over the age of 30 will win a major title for the 10th time in a row. To put this into perspective, the previous record was Laver’s tally of four during 1969.
As it currently stands, Nadal and Djokovic are second and third retrospectively in terms of most titles won after their 30th birthday. If Nadal wins, he will go to joint first with four titles. He has previously won the French Open twice (201/2018) and the 2017 US Open. Djokovic will climb to second of the all-time list with three if he wins. Drawing level with Nadal in that scenario.
Player Grand Slam titles won aged 30+
Roger Federer – 4 (2012 Wimbledon, 2017 Australian Open, 2017 Wimbledon, 2018 Australian Open)
Rod Laver – 4 (1969 Australian Open, 1969 Roland Garros, 1969 Wimbledon, 1969 US Open)
Ken Rosewall – 4 (1968 Roland Garros, 1970 US Open, 1971 Australian Open, 1972 Australian Open)
Rafael Nadal – 3 (2017 Roland Garros, 2017 US Open, 2018 Roland Garros)
Novak Djokovic – 2 (2018 Wimbledon, 2018 US Open
Andre Agassi – 2 (2001 Australian Open, 2003 Australian Open)
Jimmy Connors – 2 (1982 US Open, 1983 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka – 2 (2015 Roland Garros, 2016 US Open
Nadal eyes the quadruple-double
In the generation of the big four, Nadal could become the first of them to hold a unique record. Should he win, he would become the first player in the Open Era to win every grand slam at least twice. His current title record in the majors stands as the following :-
11 at the French Open (an achievement no other player has achieved at the same grand slam)
3 US Open
2 Wimbledon
1 Australian Open
In the history of the sport, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson achieved the record before the start of the Open Era in 1969. In Laver’s case, some of the titles he was was before 1969.
Djokovic’s hat-trick of hat-trick’s
Finally, Djokovic is bidding to win three consecutive grand slam titles for the third time in his career. Something that has never been achieved in the history of men’s tennis. During 2011-2012 he claimed three major titles in a row between Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Four years later he completed a calendar grand slam at the 2016 French Open. Where a player holds all the grand slam titles at the same time, but not within the same year.
At present, Djokovic is on a 20-match winning streak in major tournaments.
