Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

What should have been the match of the tournament – of the young year, in fact – between the two best players in the world, each of them fit, fresh and in form after barely hindered routes to the final of the 2019 Australian Open, disintegrated into an embarrassing, one–man celebration for Noval Djokovic over Rafael Nadal.

His 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 win on Rod Laver Arena brought his career count against the Spaniard to 28–25, but it was one of the poorest of their contests, stretching back to 2006. It earned Djokovic a record seventh title here – and his third major in a row. That’s some roll. He owns three of the four and has the chance to do another Novak slam in Paris, Nadal’s only safe harbour left.

The world No1 sits on 15 slams in total, moving ahead of Pete Sampras, two behind Nadal and five behind Roger Federer. It is becoming increasingly likely that the dynamic of the three–cornered hegemony of the modern era is about to change over the course of the remaining three majors this season.

Djokovic was as magnificent as he has been in any of his many triumphs, here and elsewhere. He won 40 of 50 first serves, 16 of 19 on second attempt, hit eight aces and a mere nine unforced errors. Returning on and inside the baseline, he did not allow Nadal’s revamped serve to get out of second gear, and there were only a handful of rallies worthy of the occasion.

“Novak’s level was amazing tonight,” Nadal said courtside, redundantly. “I have had some tough moments [IN THE]past 12 months, nine events, and not able to finish two of them, including this one. If tonight was not my night, it is important for me to be where I am today, coming back from injury. I really believed [THIS WAS]a great two weeks of tennis. I’m going to keep fighting hard.”

“To be standing here and win three out of [THE LAST]four slams, is amazing. I’m speechless,” Djokovic said. “Obviously, it was a tough match for you,” he told Nadal. “[YOU HAVE BEEN] unfortunate throughout your career to have so many injuries, but you show what is the definition of the fighting spirit.

Sending a message to his wife and two children, he added: “Trophies are even more special when I have someone so special and dear to share them with, along with my two brothers and my parents.” He was as businesslike beforehand as he was sentimental afterwards.

When Djokovic cracked the Nadal serve after seven minutes, it was the first time the Spaniard had given an opponent a look in a set since James Duckworth broke him in the first round – but he had regrouped so well he arrived at the final without dropping a set, keeping his court time down to a little over 12 hours in six matches.

It began to look as if Djokovic was going to do to the world number two what he’d done to Lucas Pouille in the semi–finals, and what Nadal had done to Tomas Berdych in the fourth round. Djokovic was racing through his service games, while Nadal was fighting to stay in the point.

The Spaniard was still in it at 2–4, but he had not taken a single point off Djokovic’s first 16 serves. It wasn’t until the ninth game that Nadal found some rhythm and spark off the ground, grabbing a point on the Djokovic serve after 33 minutes, his only success of the set.

Nadal, anxious and hurrying his shots, needed to find another gear, but it seemed his only hope of kickstarting a fightback was a Djokovic meltdown – and we don’t see many of those. In 224 matches in majors, Djokovic has lost only five after winning the first set. That was a brick wall that showed no sign of collapsing here.

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win his seventh australian Open title.