Djokovic wrapped it up at 1:37 a.m. local time on
Monday, becoming the fifth man since the Open Era began in 1968 to win
three straight Grand Slam finals.
Minutes earlier, at 4-4 in an electrifying fifth set,
an exhausted Djokovic collapsed with his arms and legs spread wide
after losing a 31-shot rally—the longest of the match. He seemed barely
able to pick himself and his racket up, but he somehow lifted himself
for one last effort, beating Nadal for the seventh time in a final since
March.
The 24-year-old Djokovic tore off his shirt in
celebration. He went to his support camp and repeatedly thumped the side
of the arena in front of them in delight and relief.
As the players waited for the trophy presentation,
Nadal leaned on the net, while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually,
a nearby official brought them chairs and water.
“We made history tonight and unfortunately there
couldn’t be two winners,” said Djokovic, the winner of five Grand Slam
titles and four of the last five majors.
Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod
Laver are the only players to win three consecutive Grand Slam finals
since 1968.
Nadal became the first man in the Open Era to lose
three straight major finals. He was beaten in four sets by Djokovic at
last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
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