Adnan Abidi/Reuters
MELBOURNE, Australia — The first point of the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday told the story of all that was to come.
With his opening serve, Novak Djokovic stretched Rafael Nadal wide, sending the Spaniard sprawling. Djokovic quickly had his longtime rival exactly where he wanted: off balance and unglued.
In a flash, as Nadal spun 360 degrees and scrambled to recover, Djokovic took a half-dozen confident steps forward. He lined up a backhand, and then unleashed a buzzing winner that Nadal did not even try for.
Point won. Point made. Rafael Nadal: toast.