Looking back at Novak Djokovic's 7 Australian Open titles

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Djokovic hoists aloft a record 7th Australian Open title in 2019
Djokovic hoists aloft a record 7th Australian Open title in 2019

#2 2011: Beats Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3

Djokovic wins his 2nd Grand Slam title at the 2011 Australian Open
Djokovic wins his 2nd Grand Slam title at the 2011 Australian Open

Arriving at his first Grand Slam title match in three years - at the scene of his maiden breakthrough in 2008 - Djokovic faced returning finalist Andy Murray.

It was Djokovic who took the opening set after winning the majority of baseline exchanges between the pair. The Serb then surged ahead 5-0 in the second to effectively end the match as a contest.

Although Murray recouped one of the breaks, Djokovic closed out a two-set lead to take a commanding stranglehold over the match.

Murray started off in the right vein in the third, breaking Djokovic's serve, but the joy proved short-lived. The Scot failed to consolidate the break advantage as he dropped his serve in the very next game.

Two games later, the duo exchanged another pair of breaks before Djokovic broke decisively in the eighth game and promptly served out the straight-sets win for his second Australian Open title.

This marked the fourth time a player had lost consecutive Australian Open finals in as many years in the Open Era - Stefan Edberg (1992-93), Pat Cash (1987-88), and Steve Denton (1981-82) being the others. In the process, Murray also became the first player in the Open Era to lose his first three Grand Slam finals (also 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open final against Roger Federer) without winning a set.

#3 2012: Beats Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5

Djokovic outlasts Nadal in the longest ever men's singles final at the 2012 Australian Open
Djokovic outlasts Nadal in the longest ever men's singles final at the 2012 Australian Open

Following a banner 2011 season which saw the Serb win three Grand Slam titles and beat Nadal in all six tournament finals the pair met in, Djokovic and Nadal squared off against each other in the final of the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2012 season. And it would be an occasion to remember.

In a match of lung-bursting rallies and jaw-dropping brilliance, both players were left gasping for breath. Rod Laver Arena witnessed a 5-hour 53-minute slugfest, which was also the longest ever Grand Slam final in the Open Era.

It was Nadal who drew first blood as Djokovic dropped serve twice to fall behind by a set. But the Serb came back into the contest strongly, conceding just six games in the next two sets to take a two sets to one lead.

At 3-4 0-40 in the fourth, Nadal was on the brink of defeat. He was three break points down, and effectively three championship points down. But what followed next was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Spaniard threw caution to the wind and ripped stunning winners as Djokovic saw five break points in the game evaporate into thin air. Nadal twice held serve to stay in the match and won consecutive points at 5-5 in the ensuing tiebreak to force a fifth set.

Djokovic was ruffled by the sudden turn in fortunes and the ferocity of the onslaught from an inspired opponent, as he fell behind 2-4 in the decider. But after Nadal missed a routine backhand down the line, Djokovic was back on serve and caught fire.

The Serb won four of the next five games to become the first player since Roger Federer (2006-07) and the 10th overall to successfully defend his Australian Open title. A pulsating contest mercifully drew to a close seven minutes shy of a seventh hour.

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Edited by Musab Abid
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