Novak Djokovic rewrote the record books in a dominant Melbourne run
In short: In early 2019, Novak Djokovic didn't just win another trophy; he shattered historical benchmarks. By dismantling Rafael Nadal in straight sets, he secured his seventh Australian Open title and became the first man in the Open Era to capture three consecutive major finals without dropping a single set.
The 2019 Australian Open served as a landmark moment for Novak Djokovic's legacy. By defeating Rafael Nadal with a score of 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 in the final, Djokovic claimed his 15th major title overall. This victory allowed him to surpass Pete Sampras to take third place on the all-time list of major championships. Furthermore, by reaching just the fourth round of the tournament, he successfully retained his position as the world No.
1 singles ranking. The tournament also highlighted significant milestones for other icons and rising stars. Roger Federer, entering as the two-time defending champion, saw his run end in the fourth round against Stefanos Tsitsipas. This loss was particularly notable because it marked the first time a Greek player had reached the semifinals of a singles major.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal's pursuit of a double career Grand Slam—a feat he would not actually achieve until three years later—remained a central narrative of the event. Technically, 2019 was a year of transition for the sport's format. It marked the first time since 1982 that an Australian Open final featured a tie-break in the final set. Under these rules, when a match reaches 6–6 in the fifth set, a ten-point match tie-break is played to determine the winner. This specific mechanism had already debuted earlier in the tournament during a first-round clash between Jérémy Chardy and Ugo Humbert.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2019 Australian Open – Men's singles
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