Nadal wins first set in Australian Open final
Rafael Nadal has claimed the early initiative by winning the first set in the Australian Open final against world number one Novak Djokovic.
The momentum shifted one way and then the other but a break in the 11th game proved crucial as Nadal took it 7-5 in an hour and 20 minutes.
Having threatened on Djokovic’s first two service games, Nadal finally made the breakthrough for a 3-2 advantage.
He squandered his first break point but some big hitting off the backhand side set up a second which he took when Djokovic thrashed a short ball long.
Djokovic’s frustration was evident - he hurled his racquet to the floor at the changeover - and he upped his game when play resumed.
He had two break points to hit back immediately but the first came and went via a booming Nadal forehand and the second when Djokovic steered a sloppy groundstroke wide.
Nadal eventually held for 4-2 but he could not repeat the feat when Djokovic applied the pressure in his next service game.
He staved off the first two break points – the second with a clever swinging serve out wide – but on the third could only put a weak forehand into the net.
Two routine holds followed before Nadal upped the aggression to break for a 6-5 lead and he served it out.
