3 Most thrilling marathon matches of Rafael Nadal in 2018

#2 Wimbledon semifinal with Novak Djokovic (6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 4-6, 10-8)

Result: Lost Duration: 5 hrs 15 mins

Another installment of the Spanish-Serbian rivalry

Novak Djokovic survived the Rafael Nadal test in a draining slugfest that crossed the 5-hour red mark. Another memorable episode in the duo’ incredible rivalry is the second longest semi-final in Wimbledon history.

After two contrasting sets, the third set went produce more friction. The tiebreaker eventually went the Serbian’s way but the match had to go for a sleep interval. Djokovic and Nadal could only complete three sets on Friday night before the 11pm curfew as the match was preluded by the 6hr+ marathon between John Isner and Kevin Anderson.

Next afternoon, Djokovic with a 2-1 lead going into was stunned the brutal start by a roaring Nadal. He did have to save two break points as Novak settled but eventually made it all even at 2 sets apiece.

The fifth set had it all. Both players had multiple break points. Nadal survived at 3-4 and Djokovic saved hi serve at 15-40 to make it 4-4. Nadal again raced 15-40 on Djokovic's serve at 7-7.

The Djoker stretched the game but Nadal was not reading from the same page as he got a third break point. Now Nadal went in for the kill, moving to the net after a big crosscourt backhand but Djokovic smashed a brilliant forehand pass across him while he stood stranded and flustered.

A match not for the tenuous-hearted

Nadal, always the fighter, brought a sumptuous drop shot out of the bag while facing another break point to make the score 8-7. Something had to give and finally, it did. Djokovic seized his first match point at 0-40 on the Nadal serve as the Spaniard’s forehand went off the mark.

A loss for Nadal in the record books but a win for millions of Tennis connoisseurs!