jokovic banking on ‘mental edge’ to beat Nadal to win Australian Open

January 28, 2012 | Sports | Written by

Melbourne, Jan 28: World No.1 Novak Djokovic has said he has the mental edge over Rafael Nadal to carry him to the Australian Open crown.

Djokovic faced a “physical crisis” to reach Sunday night’s final.

The world No.1 overcame breathing difficulties and severe fatigue beat Andy Murray in an exhausting five-set semi-final that finished in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Djokovic admitted to having consulted doctors in a desperate bid to diagnose his mystery “allergy” and was only hoping – rather than expecting – to be ready for his record-setting title showdown with Nadal.

For the first time in open-era history, the same two men will contest three consecutive grand slam finals after Djokovic denied Nadal in four-set deciders at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, The Herald Sun reports. (ANI)