Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
It’s tough to forget a memorable match between two of the best people in tennis. This is especially true if said match was the longest grand slam final in the Open era.
Hardcore tennis fans who watched the classic Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as their first game probably fell in love with the sport after that moment. The two superb players showcased everything a top tennis player should have in order to survive in a tough competition.
Now that these two face each other once more on Melbourne’s biggest stage, it’s understandable that the hype surrounding the match is palpable. Both men want to succeed on the court and establish themselves in the first Grand Slam of the year.
This is a tough match to call, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another repeat of the legendary match these two competitive men shared.
Talking Points
Djokovic wants it all again
It’s hard not to want it all when you’re Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian did go through a rough patch over the past two years wherein he didn’t play to the level that was expected of him. His long-time absence from the sport even got some others questioning as to whether he can still play at a top level.
Lo and behold the second half of 2018. An angry Djokovic steamrolled everyone in all of the major competitions but fell short at the ATP Finals. He comes for the Australian Open title with the anger and frustration that still hasn’t dissipated.
For example, his latest clash against Lucas Pouille was one that ended in disaster for the Frenchman. The Joker didn’t give him any sets as he only ceded four games to win the semi-final in straight sets. He also has an impressive track record: the Serbian hasn’t lost a match as the top seed at the Open.
Moreover, he is more than excited to play his Spanish rival. He said ahead of the match: “He looked as good as ever on the hard court throughout these few weeks…I think that this final comes at the right time for both of us. I’m sure we’re going to have a blast on the court.”
Djokovic will be an unstoppable tennis machine once they begin playing.
Nadal is hungry for the Aussie triumph
Djokovic is certainly one cool cat, but that doesn’t mean that Nadal won’t be stepping up to the plate as well.
He is established as one of the bigger favourites to win the title and has backed up his seeding with some impressive performances. He has not dropped a single set throughout the Grand Slam, though Tomas Berdych threatened to steal a set from him.
Moreover, his semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas looked more like hitting practice than an actual match. This exhibition showed how well Nadal has played that he held the player who took down Roger Federer to nothing in the final set.
He is also doing everything to improve himself. The player who is most known as the King of Clay has now won two Wimbledon titles and the 2009 Australian Open crown. He reminded everyone in an interview that he is not a defensive player simply because of his dominance on clay.
“Of course, I am not doing serve and volley. I am not hitting winners every ball. But I play all the shots with a goal. There is not a better way to be aggressive than hit every shot with the goal to create damage on the opponent.”
And damage is definitely what he will try to do unto Novak when they meet for the 53rd time.
History
They have met a lot of times on the pro circuit as they are in a similar age range. The two tennis greats have a close record together, with Djokovic having a two-match lead over Nadal. They first met at the quarter-final of the 2006 Roland Garros where Djokovic had to retire. They have played each other a lot on all surfaces since then, a lot of them being on the hard court.
However, the most interesting match of all the games they have played is the 2012 Australian Open. This epic of a match lasted for five hours and fifty-five minutes. It was a back-and-forth affair between the two stars who both had the mental fortitude to make big plays despite the exhaustion taking over both of them.
If they would play anywhere close to the level they showcased in 2012, then we would have a very entertaining match in our hands with the best Australian Open 2019 highlights to boot.
What are the odds?
Given Djokovic’s roaring form, there’s no wonder that the Australian Open 2019 odds at SBOBET look for him to win.
The Asian Handicap market offers a big 2.28 for Djokovic to win quite comfortably. The Money Line market gives Nadal quite a boost at 2.21.
However, I would not count on Djokovic easily sweeping past the Spaniard. He has been on point throughout the whole tournament and will likely not lose. He will definitely bring the contest to full sets, making the Over 42.00 Game Handicap in the Over-Under market a viable punt to make.
Either way, I believe that we are in for a treat. I expect these two men to give us the show of the year!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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