Rafael Nadal will end his career at the Davis Cup Finals in November, terminating his professional tennis journey after 23 years. The 22-time Major winner collected many incredible triumphs over the years, but there were also tough losses along the way. Rafa’s uncle Toni has no doubts about his nephew’s most brutal defeat, citing the 2012 Australian Open final. Nadal battled against Novak Djokovic and fell 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 after five hours and 53 minutes, finishing runner-up in tennis history’s most extended Major final! Toni never watched a replay of this outstanding battle, admitting the match left him devastated after the chances his nephew missed. The Spaniard prevailed in the fourth set and forced a decider, gaining a boost and opening a 4-2, 30-15 lead. In one of the most costly misses of his career, Rafa played a loose backhand and dropped the game, bringing Novak back into contention. The Serb secured a late break, sealing the deal after a thriller and defending the title in style.
Rafael Nadal, 2012 Australian Open © Stream screenshot
Djokovic prevailed over Andy Murray in the semi-final and endured another five-setter against his greatest rival, starting a massive celebration and writing history books. Rafa and Novak have met 60 times since 2006, but no match has ever come close to this one regarding how close the rivals were and how much they pushed each other to the limits. The Serb claimed 17 points more than his rival, mainly in the mid-range exchanges, with nothing separating them in the shortest and most advanced ones. Djokovic fired more winners and drew more mistakes from his opponent while keeping the unforced errors under control, enduring all the challenges and lifting the trophy after nearly six hours of mind-blowing tennis. Novak generated 20 break chances and converted seven, including the pivotal one in the closing stages of the duel. The Serb played against three break points after the opener, losing serve only four times and emerging as a deserved winner.
Novak Djokovic, 2012 Australian Open© Stream screenshot
Toni Nadal revealed Rafael Nadal’s most painful loss.
Nadal made a stronger start, serving well and delivering a break in the fifth game after Djokovic’s wasted game points. Rafa survived two break points in the sixth game, forging a 4-2 advantage after 40 minutes. Novak stepped in and pulled the break back in game eight. The Spaniard sprayed a forehand that could have sent him 5-3 in front and fell on the third break point after another wayward forehand, bringing his opponent back to 4-4. Djokovic claimed the ninth game from 0-30, rattling off three games and moving in front. Nadal prolonged the battle with a hold in game ten and welcomed the opponent’s backhand error in the next one, securing a break and forging another lead. Rafa served for the opener at 6-5 and converted the third set point with a service winner, closing the first part of the duel after an hour and 20 minutes. Djokovic forged a 3-1 lead in the second set and provided two comfortable holds for 5-2.
Rafael Nadal, 2012 Australian Open© Stream screenshot
Giving everything to climb back, Nadal saved a set point on serve in the eighth game and two more on the return in the next one before breaking back after the rival’s costly double fault. The Spaniard served to prolong the battle at 4-5 and missed a game point. He sprayed a double fault on the fourth set point, allowing the Serb to take the set 6-4 and level the overall score after two hours and 26 minutes! Novak took charge and outplayed his opponent in the third set, serving well and delivering two breaks. Rafa got broken in game four and served to stay in the set at 2-5. World no. 1 made a push on the return and fired a forehand down the line winner, earning a break at love and moving two sets to one ahead after three hours and 11 minutes. The Spaniard faced the ultimate challenge in the eighth game of the third set, playing against three break points and standing on the verge of defeat. Like a true champion, Nadal erased them with winners, firing five in a row and locking the result at 4-4 after four hours of play!
Novak Djokovic, 2012 Australian Open© Stream screenshot
The rain halted the action, and two rivals continued an epic clash under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena. Rafa served to stay in the match at 5-6, holding at love with a forehand winner and introducing a tie break. Novak claimed two return points at 2-3 and built a 5-3 advantage with a forehand down the line winner, standing two points away from the title. Djokovic missed a routine forehand at 5-4 and allowed Nadal to perform a comeback, with the Spaniard rattling off four points and forcing a decider after four hours and 40 minutes! The set kicked off with five comfortable holds before Rafa made a push on the return at 3-2. Novak missed a forehand and dropped serve after a forced error, falling 4-2 behind and finding himself in a challenging position. The Spaniard missed a routine backhand at 30-15 in the seventh game and lost serve after the Serb’s deep return and a forced mistake.
Rafael Nadal, 2012 Australian Open© Stream screenshot
Rafa saved a break point in the ninth game with a service winner and landed another for a 5-4 lead. Djokovic served to stay in the match in the tenth game and closed it with a forehand winner, extending the drama. World no. 1 drew the rival’s mistake in the 11th game and generated a break point. Nadal saved it but fell on the second after a loose slice, falling 6-5 behind and allowing Djokovic to serve for the title. Rafa made one last push and created a break chance after an extended rally. The Serb denied it with a caused error after a backhand attack and earned a match point after the Spaniard’s tired backhand. Novak seized it with a forehand winner, celebrating the most thrilling victory of his career and lifting the trophy.
“Rafa’s worst defeat came against Novak Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final. That match left me devastated, and I have never watched it again,” Toni Nadal said.