MELBOURNE: Defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic beat second seed Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 to win his third Australian Open title on Sunday.
The final broke the record as the longest match in tournament history when it hit 5hr 15min.
The match was also the longest Grand Slam final on record, outstripping the 1988 US Open final between Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl, which lasted 4hr 54min.
The previous longest Australian Open match was the 2009 semifinal between Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, which lasted 5hr 14min.
Nadal saved three break points in the eighth game of the fourth set then waited out a 10-minute rain break before he levelled the match by taking the fourth set 7-6.
In Image: Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, holds the championship trophy with runner-up Rafael Nadal of Spain
Text: Reuters
Images: AP
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