Home » Patrick Mouratoglou claims that Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic “went over the edge.”

Since 2006, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have engaged in numerous epic matches. They never pushed each other as hard as they did in the 2012 Australian Open final, so one match stands as the apex of their rivalry.

In the longest Major final ever, Novak triumphed 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 after five hours and 53 minutes. While looking back on the match, Patrick Mouratoglou described it as the most psychologically and physically taxing match in tennis history.

Their mental toughness, which allowed them to push each other to the maximum for six hours, was complimented by the well-known instructor. In the fourth set, Novak had a chance to win it all, but he missed it, giving Rafa a boost.

Prior to missing that infamous easy backhand shot in the decider, the Spaniard was up 4-2, 30-15, and that shot certainly cost him the championship. Djokovic generated 20 break opportunities, converted seven of them, and lost service four times. The Serb had more victories and made the Spanish commit more errors.

Nothing could separate them in the quickest and longest rallies, so he forged the triumph in the mid-range exchanges.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic received appreciation from Patrick Mouratoglou.

The first six games between the great rivals took 40 minutes to complete. Nadal led 4-2 before Djokovic won the next three games to take the lead 5-4.

After an hour and 20 minutes, the Spaniard broke again at 5-5 when Novak fired a backhand long. He then converted his third set point in the following game for a 7-5 victory! In response to Nadal‘s costly double fault in game 10 of the second set, Djokovic broke to tie the match at 1-1 and gain momentum.

With the help of that momentum, Novak defeated Rafa and won the third set 6-2 to advance to the final stretch. After over 90 minutes, Nadal persevered and won the fourth set in a tie break to force a tiebreaker and prolong a thrilling contest.

Rafa, who was competing for every point, opened a 4-2 gap before missing the vital backhand that turned the tide in his favor. Djokovic refused to give up, came back from a break down, tied the score at 5-5, and then won a crucial break in game 11.

Serving for the win at 6-5, Novak survived a break point and won the point with a forehand to commemorate one of his career’s pinnacles. “Both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic overcame their physical limitations.

When it comes to mental toughness, they are arguably the best players in the history of the game. That enabled them to keep a high level and go over their limitations. One of the most mentally taxing tennis matches ever played. Their brains drove them over the edge because they wouldn’t give in.

Although physically they were at their best, that wouldn’t be enough to keep them on the court for almost to six hours without slowing down. Due to the lack of a mental component, two other players who were physically prepared would have broken sooner.

Rafa and Novak possessed it, and it allowed them to challenge one another to that extent “explained Patrick Mouratoglou.