With Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal meeting for the 35th time today, AFP looks at five classic encounters between the two:
> 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters final
Djokovic bt Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (7/1)
Djokovic, despite an ankle injury, ended Nadal’s eight-year dominance of the event which had stretched for 46 matches. Djokovic also became the first player to beat Nadal three times in a claycourt final.
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> 2012 French Open final
Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
In a final played over two days due to rain, the six-time champion in Paris led by two sets and a break before the Serb rallied to win eight consecutive games en route to clinching the third. Djokovic was 2-1 up with a break in the fourth when play was suspended for the day. When the final resumed, Nadal broke back to level at 2-2 and went on to wrap up victory in three hours and 49 minutes.
> 2012 Australian Open final
Djokovic bt Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5
Djokovic extended his winning streak to seven over Nadal in what is longest Grand Slam final (five hours and 53 minutes). Djokovic had trailed 2-4 in the fifth set while Nadal had never before lost a Grand Slam final after winning the first set.
> 2011 Madrid Masters final
Djokovic bt Nadal 7-5, 6-4
Djokovic wins for a 34th consecutive time by ending Nadal’s 37-match unbeaten run on clay by beating the defending champion 7-5, 6-4. It was also Djokovic’s first win over Nadal on clay after nine failed attempts.
> 2010 US Open final
Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Nadal won his first US Open title to become the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam. u00a0In a match bedevilled by rain — the final was delayed by a day before a two-hour stoppage on Monday — the Spaniard dropped a set for the first time at the tournament. Nadal pressed and pressed, creating 16 break point chances in the final two sets.
Head-to-head
Rafael Nadal leads 19-15. In the last five matches between them, Djokovic has won twice — including in their last match at Monte Carlo this year.u00a0