Rafael Nadal will meet Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
Date: January 27, 2019
Match time: 7:30 PM AEDT local time / 3:30 AM EST – New York, Montreal / 8:30 AM GMT – United Kingdom / 9:30 AM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The two have played each other 52 times. The current head to head is 27 to 25 in favour of Djokovic.
This is the 25th Tour-level final that the pair have contested, giving them sole ownership of the Open Era record for most match-ups in Tour-level finals. This is the first Tour-level final the pair have contested since 2016 Doha, which Djokovic won in straight sets.
This is the pair’s 8th meeting in a Grand Slam final which gives them sole ownership of 2nd place on the Open Era list for most match-ups in Grand Slam finals. This is their first meeting in a Grand Slam final since 2014 Roland Garros, which Rafa won in 4 sets. They have previously contested 3 finals at the US Open, 2 finals at Roland Garros, and one final both here and at Wimbledon.
This is the pair’s 2nd meeting at the Australian Open. In their only previous meeting here, in the 2012 final, they contested the longest Australian Open final on record, with Djokovic winning 57 64 62 67(5) 75 in 5 hours 53 minutes.
Rafa is bidding to end a 7-match losing streak against Djokovic on hard courts. He has not defeated Djokovic on a hard court since the final at the 2013 US Open. This is their 26th meeting on a hard court. Djokovic leads the head-to-head on hard court 18-7 – by comparison, Rafa leads the clay court head-to-head 16-7 and they are tied 2-2 on grass.
Rafa can become the first man in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam title twice or more, while Djokovic is bidding to become the first man to win seven titles at the Australian Open.
Our champ is bidding for an 18th Grand Slam title, which would see him close the gap on Federer at the top of the all-time list for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Vamos Rafa
Today I want to take this time to say to you Rafa this is your time your moment let no one take it away from you, you’ll shine brightly and stand above with this trophy your 18th Gram Slam and I know you’re going to do it in style I have every confident and not going to say good luck you don’t need it cause this is for you to have .My champs you’re doing exceptionally well I see a difference in you not a beast but a dragon in you and i’m really, really proud and i’m proudly with sincerity to be one of your die-harded fans for the pass 16 years.Continue to be the kind of person the motivator ,destroyer,fighter,and a real conqueror and you have my blessings going on this court forever my hero and much love everytime.
Good luck nasal, the good man that you are
All your fans are sending you positive energy as always Rafa. We are confident that you will be victorious tomorrow. Rise and shine champ. AO 2019 trophy is yours. Vamos💪💪💪
Rafa is playing amazing tennis at the moment . The big plus has been the serve which was hurting him earlier. When it came to rallies, he is better than the others. I am confident that he will win this one. Good luck Rafa.
Come on Rafa this one is yours bite the AO trophy we all are eagerly waiting
Vamos Rafa!!! Always and forever. You are my favorite sportsman of all time by far- I’m 79 years old so you’re the top of some elite company. (Jackie Robinson is my 2nd fave – if you don’t know who he was, watch the movie 42. He played baseball the way YOU play tennis. I’ll be overjoyed if you win and really really sorry if you lose. That’s the way it is with fans who cannot compete and can’t really understand. Win or lose I’m sending you big hugs!! I’ve loved watching your tennis these past two weeks, rejoicing to see you healthy again and still finding new things in your game. Keep going!
Rafael, please believe in yourself as we your fans believe in you. You have beaten Novak before and you can do it again. Please, please make this 18 and then French open number 19 and we will be so, so happy. Love you so much. Praying,praying, praying.