Novak Djokovic declared his five-set epic against Rafael Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open as the best win of his career.

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It’s arguable that the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, that took place on Sunday, was the greatest match of all time. Lasting nearly six hours, the contest was not just lengthy, but fast-paced and continuously exciting. It’s no surprise that Djokovic, the eventual winner, regards the showdown as the best match of his career so far.

“All this effort that we both put in last night on the tennis court was incredible. It was something that we will both remember forever,” remarked Djokovic to reporters at the Carlton Gardens in Australia. “Now I will have time to enjoy the success because it's not just about winning a grand slam. It's really more than that. The way that we played yesterday makes me feel very proud of what I achieved.”

“Under the circumstances it was definitely the greatest match I've ever played. The match that could have gone either way. The match that almost went six hours. Adding to all that, it was a Grand Slam final and a win against the biggest rival.”