Australian Open 2019: Novak Djokovic blows away Rafael Nadal to win title for record 7th time

Australian Open final: Novak Djokovic literally blew away Nadal in one of the most one-sided finals one could ever have imagined between two modern-day greats.

Novak Djokovic scripted history, becoming the first man to win seven Australian Open titles in open era by beating Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets in the final at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. The victory – his 15^th Grand Slam - took Djokovic past Pete Sampras in the all-time Grand Slam title holder’s list. Only Nadal (16) and Federer (20) have won more Slams than the Serbian. Djokovic literally blew away Nadal in one of the most one-sided finals one could ever have imagined between two modern-day greats. Djokovic broke Nadal’s serve in as early as the second game of the first set after the Spaniard had held on to his serve for an astonishing 63 straight games, advancing to the final without dropping a set. After taking a 3-0 lead in the first set, there was no looking back for the World No. 1 who bulldozed through to a 6-3 victory. In the second game, Djokovic raised the bar higher while Nadal struggled to put his act together. Astonishingly, Nadal was committing errors on his forehand. Djokovic had only conceded two points on serve in the entire match to this point but Nadal had his first sniff at breaking when he got to 30-15 ahead and deuce, twice. Djokovic had to withstand pressure for the first time in the match, overcoming the threat with a roar and a fist pump to go 4-2 ahead. The on-song Serb was so fired up he came straight out and broke Nadal again to go to 5-2 before serving out for a two-set lead with three aces in a row with just 1hr 16min on the clock. The statistics were as telling as the scoreline: Djokovic had served eight aces to Nadal's one and made just four unforced errors while the Spaniard had coughed up 20. When Djokovic broke again in the third game of the third set it was just a matter of how quickly he would finish off Nadal. The end was swift, as Djokovic withstood one break point at 3-2 before administering the last rites in a flurry of winners off both wings. Victory extended his win-loss record against Nadal to 28-25 and squared the Grand Slam final count between the pair at 4-4.