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Home , 2009 French Open, 2010 US Open (tennis), 2016 French Open, 2018 Australian Open, 2018 US Open (tennis), Australian Open

: Men’s Singles Final RAFA NADAL V -to-head (Nadal 25 – Djokovic 27)

2-RAFA NADAL

Age: 32

ATP ranking: 2

ATP titles: 80

Coaches: Carlos Moya,

Grand Slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2009; 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; U.S. Open 2010, 2013, 2017)

2018 Australian Open performance: Quarter-finals

Best Australian Open performance: Winner (2009)

Road to final: First round: () 6-4 6-3 7-5 Second round: (Australia) 6-3 6-2 6-2 Third round: 27- (Australia) 6-1 6-2 6-4 Fourth round: Tomas Berdych () 6-0 6-1 7-6(4) Quarter-finals: (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 6-2 Semi-finals: () 6-2 6-4 6-0

Nadal has scythed down younger opponents in ruthless fashion at this year to come within touching distance of his second Australian Open crown, a title he last won 10 years ago.

The Spaniard came into the tournament short of match fitness after poor luck with injuries at the end of last season spilled over into 2019 and prompted him to pull out of the warm-up event in earlier this month.

But the 17-times winner has roared back to his dominant best ahead of a 53rd career meeting with the in-form Djokovic, setting up what promises to be a classic contest between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.

In Djokovic, Nadal faces a rival who can match his limitless energy and the 32-year-old will bank on his accuracy and whipping to be the weapon that can make a difference.

1-NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Age: 31

ATP ranking: 1

ATP titles: 72

Coach: Marian Vajda

Grand Slam titles: 14 (Australian Open 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018; U.S. Open 2011, 2015, 2018)

2018 Australian Open performance: Fourth round

Best Australian Open performance: Winner (six times)

Road to final: First round: beat (U.S.) 6-3 6-2 6-2 Second round: beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga () 6-3 7-5 6-4 Third round: beat 25- () 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-0 Fourth round: beat 15- () 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3 Quarter-finals: beat 8- () 6-1 4-1 (retired) Semi-finals: beat 28- (France) 6-0 6-2 6-2

Djokovic failed to make the semi-finals at Melbourne in the past two years hampered by an elbow issue, but has returned to his best and is a favourite for a seventh title in Melbourne.

The Serb, who has won the last two Grand Slams following a spectacular return to form last year, has continued to quell all challengers in his path in the season's first major.

Bidding for his 15th Grand Slam title, Djokovic will meet Nadal seven years after edging him in a five hour 53- minute marathon at , the longest Slam final on record.

The Serb has enjoyed their most recent exchange too, having beaten Nadal in five sets in the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, and will look to wear down his biggest rival again.

Last five meetings:

2018 Djokovic beat Nadal 6-4 3-6 7-6(9) 3-6 10-8 (Wimbledon, grass)

2018 Nadal beat Djokovic 7-6(4) 6-3 (Rome, clay)

2017 Nadal beat Djokovic 6-2 6-4 (, clay)

2016 Djokovic beat Nadal 7-5 7-6(4) (Rome, clay)

2016 Djokovic beat Nadal 7-6(5) 6-2 (Indian wells, hard) (Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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