Novak Djokovic picks the toughest match he’s performed in his total profession

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Prior to the ‘new two’ taking on on the high of males’s tennis, Djokovic needed to compete in arguably the toughest period within the sport’s historical past.

He was confronted with the opposite three members of the ‘big four’: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Though every of them triggered him issues, it was Nadal on the opposite facet of the online throughout the match that Djokovic now admits was essentially the most troublesome he has ever performed.

Novak Djokovic’s match with Rafael Nadal within the 2012 Australian Open last

In a put up on Instagram uploaded by ‘Alex the tennis pro’, Djokovic was requested to select the hardest match of his profession.

The 38-year-old responded: “The 2012 final of the Australian Open with Nadal.”

Djokovic’s conflict with Nadal within the 2012 Australian Open last was arguably the best match in tennis historical past, between maybe the 2 best gamers of all time.

Their bout was, and nonetheless is, each the longest Australian Open match ever and the longest Grand Slam singles last in historical past, lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes.

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After going a set down that day, Djokovic gained the second and third units, however Nadal compelled a decider by rising victorious within the fourth-set tiebreak, earlier than falling to his knees in celebration as if he had gained the match.

In an unimaginable fifth-set show, nevertheless, Djokovic sealed the victory to assert his third Australian Open title and fifth main general.

The two stars may barely stand throughout the award ceremony, exhibiting the extraordinarily demanding battle that that they had simply been by way of.

Casper Ruud wished he may change the results of the 2012 Australian Open last

Casper Ruud, a self-confessed lifetime fan of Nadal, mentioned in 2022 that he wished he may change the results of the 2012 Australian Open last.

As per TNT, “I think I can say for Rafa, I wish I could change one result in the history of tennis, and I don’t know if he’ll be angry or happy for me saying this.

“It’s not the Roland Garros final this year [2022] because it was not a very close match, but Rafa’s Australian Open loss in 2012 against Novak.

“I was probably even sadder than himself because that was watching six hours of TV and hoping Rafa would win, and then it was probably one of the best matches ever.

“I think for days, I was still sad about the loss for him, and I still wish today that he could have won.”

Ruud misplaced to Nadal within the 2022 Roland Garros last in straight units, with the King of Clay clinching a record-extending 14th Paris crown that yr.