It can easily be touted as the ‘Clash of the Titans’ as world number one Novak Djokovic will take on world number two Rafael Nadal in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena on January 27. The pair last met in a final in Melbourne in 2012 – when the Djokovic won after a six-hour epic battle in five sets (longest Grand Slam final in history).
On the back of one-sided semifinals victories, both Djokovic and Nadal pack their bags to throw ammunitions at each other for the 53rd time in their illustrious careers. Djokovic leads head to head 27-25, while Nadal holds a 4-3 win-loss record against the top-ranked Serb in majors finals.
The Melbourne Park will once again have prima facie visuals of a modern-day classic. Sunday promises to be a modern-day classic between two men who have not learned how or when to give up. A win for Nadal will see him become the first player in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam titles twice, while victory for Djokovic will take him clear of six-time Melbourne winners Roger Federer and Roy Emerson.
Here’s how the social media is abuzz ahead of the Australian Open Men’s final: