Heartbreaks and smiles: The 5 best Rafael Nadal matches at the Australian Open

3. Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic 2012 (Djokovic def Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in the finals)

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after their epic Australian Open final in 2012

Heartbreak, heartbreak and more heartbreak. For the admirers of Rafa, this match turned out exactly the way the 2008 Wimbledon finals and 2009 Australian Open finals affected Roger Federer fans. Excitement, nerve-racking moments, nerve ending rallies, nail biting finish – this longest-ever Grand Slam final was the epitome of a classic match.

After leading the final set with a break, Rafa went on to lose the title in a fashion that reinforced his Novak-phobia. For a lesser player this would’ve been a career-ending defeat, but not for the Muscles from Mallorca. The King of Clay overcame his mental obstacles against Djokovic, and went on to conquer him in the 2012 French Open finals.