Event of the Day: Australian Open Men’s Final
Our event of the day is the men’s final of the Australian Open. World number one Novak Djokovic faces world number two Rafael Nadal in their 53rd match against one another. Djokovic last won the tournament in 2016 and will look for his seventh Australian Open title. Meanwhile, Nadal's only title in the tournament came in 2009 and he would complete the double career Grand Slam with a win today. These two men never fail to excite when they go head-to-head so be sure you don’t miss today’s final. Rafael Nadal has made a bold statement about his future in tennis with his performance at this year’s Australian Open tournament. Despite winning five of the nine tournaments he participated in during the 2018 season, numerous injuries limited his playing time. Worries about his fitness persisted as he withdrew from the Brisbane International earlier in January. However, he swept those worries aside with a dominant performance in Melbourne. The Spaniard has not lost a set in the tournament and has only given up more than four games in a set once.
However, standing in his way is Novak Djokovic. The world number one comes off a 2018 season that saw him win two Grand Slam titles. He has shown how deserving he is of his world ranking as he has battled his way to today’s final. He has not enjoyed the straight-sets run Nadal has, but he has still persevered and overcome each obstacle in his way. The rivalry between these two men is legendary. Both turned pro around the same time but they would not meet until 2006, in the quarterfinals of the French Open. However, the rivalry would begin in earnest in 2009, when the two men met in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters. The four hour, three minute match was a gruelling affair that saw Nadal save three match points to take a win in three sets. Their first Grand Slam final was the 2010 US Open and Nadal’s victory there completed his career Grand Slam. Overall, the two have played 52 matches against one another, with Djokovic holding a slim 27-25 lead. Today’s match will be the first Major final between the two since the 2014 French Open. Prior to today, the two last met in the semi-finals of last year’s Wimbledon Championships with Djokovic coming out on top. These are the two best male tennis players in the world currently, competing in yet another chapter of their storied rivalry. You will not want to miss this match.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA, where the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Milwaukee Bucks at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Both teams enter today’s game on winning streaks. The Thunder have a four-game win streak while the Bucks are riding six wins. The Bucks will look to cement their lead atop the Eastern Conference while the Thunder are third in the West and will look to remain competitive down the final stretch of the season. This is a clash of two hungry offenses so expect an exciting match today. Elsewhere, the Marrakech marathon takes place today. In the FA Cup, Chelsea host Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. The Farmers Insurance Open concludes at the Torrey Pines Golf Course. In Ligue 1, PSG host Rennes at the Parc des Princes. In Major League Rugby, the San Diego Legion welcome Rugby United New York to Torero Stadium.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Australian Open