Tennis looks set for a great year after Serbian Novak Djokovic's victory in a five set duel with Spain's Rafael Nadal (in picture, right) in the Australian Open final. At almost six hours, the match was the longest ever grand slam final and is already being hailed as one of the great matches of all time. The final score was 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.

Djokovic called the match the greatest moment of his career and said that Nadal produced incredible serves and points. He said the Spaniard “deserved to prolong the match in the fifth set, and then really both of us could have won the match.” After Novak Djokovic's rise to dominance in 2011, when he won three grand slams and gained the world number one ranking, the tennis world watched eagerly to see if the Serbian had maintained his form and if the other top players had found a way to beat him. The results followed the form book, the world's top four players met in the semi finals and the the top two contested the final, with the world number one taking the title. But the way in which the matches panned out was anything but predictable and pedestrian. Djokovic had a tough game against world number four, Britain's Andy Murray. Another tight five set match. Nadal had a slightly easier time against once all conquering Roger Federer. The Spaniard had looked unstoppable all tournament and not even  Federer could do anything about his blisteringly physical onslaught.

The final was a different story, while the opening set was almost too close to call. First Nadal broke Djokovic's serve, Djokovic quickly broke back and neither player had a comfortable service game. Most games went to deuce, but it was Nadal who eventually got a second break to take the first set 7 – 5. During the second set, Djokovic began to take control of the game. Unlike anyone else in the tournament, he was effectively containing Nadal's ground strokes and uncharted court covering capacity. Taking the ball early, the depth and accuracy of Djokovic's shots were beginning to put him in control of the rallies. The constant pressure on Nadal's serve paid dividends and the Serbian took the next two sets, but it was a struggle all the way – Djokovic had to fight for every point.

The fourth set looked like being the last. Rafa was again under pressure on his serve and perhaps victory was in sight for Novac Djokovic. But the competitive Spaniard wasn't beaten yet, facing three break points he upped the level. In a series of breathtaking games littered with marathon rallies and thundering shots, Nadal clawed his way back into the match, taking the fourth set in a tie-break. The final set promised to be a cracker and it didn't disappoint. Nadal carried his momentum and went up a break to lead 4-2, while Djokovic started to look tired for the first time in the match. But the match had a final twist, Nadal missed an open court while serving to lead 5-2 and in all probability sew up the match. The Serbian came back to life and seized this slenderest of chances to get himself level again. The last games of the final set saw both players give their last ounce of strength, but it was Djokovic who got the break and held serve to give him the historic victory.

The drama of the Australian Open suggest that 2012 could be a vintage year for tennis, as well as the three remaining grand slam events – the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, tennis fans can look forward to another showdown in the Olympics. This year's Australian Open could turn out to be only the first in a series of dramatic encounters between the top four players in 2012.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com 

(photo source: Australian Open)