Epic match
What an absolute epic tennis match in Melbourne today between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. For almost six hours these two incredible sportsmen were like gladiators as over and over again they each found implausible energy reserves and a single-mindedness to hurtle around the court often covering over 100 meters per point to gain an advantage over their opponent.
With the time difference we put the box on when we woke up, correction when our daughter woke us up (around 6am) and Nadal had just won the first set. We then sat transfixed and I was honoured to watch two great men contest an historic final.
I was cheering on Rafa, because I just love his charm and relentless athleticism but Djoker is on a phenomenal run of form.
An enduring image was that of the the two exhausted men stood stone-faced side by side (they are said to not be close) sucking on bottles of water, as the presentation speeches droned on, especially the Japanese bloke from Kia. Finally they were given seats as the suits threatened to ruin the memories of what had just preceded.
Rafa wished everyone “good morning” as he stepped up to collect his runners up prize. It was 2am Monday morning local time and the match had lasted five hours and 53 minutes, longer by almost an hour than the previous longest match in a grand slam final – four hours and 54 minutes when Mats Wilander beat Ivan Lendl at the 1988 US Open.
The final was probably more a dogfight than one of refinement but it was full of pulsating moments and shifting advantages and it is often said but rarely meant but it was a shame there was only one winner.
