Nadal always looked like the most likely winner once he got his nose back in front.
With another Australian Open title having slipped through his fingers after a tournament plagued by off-court dramas, Andy Murray could not wait to see the back of Melbourne Park after losing his fifth final on Sunday.
American tennis legend John McEnroe has hailed Novak Djokovic as one of the greats of all time after the Serb again claimed the year-end world number one spot with a victory at the ATP Tour Finals on Friday.
This is the first time that the towering Croatian has made the final of the Aus Open
Defending champion Roger Federer argued with an umpire but mostly let his racket do the talking as he beat Tomas Berdych for the ninth time running to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro became the first player through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as she dug herself out of a hole to beat Estonian Anett Kontaveit 4-6, 6-4 ,8-6 on Sunday.
Gael Monfils said playing Novak Djokovic in temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday was a 'risk' to health and that the 25-second rule between points should have been relaxed.
Federer may have set the benchmark on how to do tennis retirements. He didn't go out in a blaze of lonely glory but in the warmth of friendships formed over the years, observes Deepti Patwardhan.
Penpix of the top men's contenders at the 2021 Australian Open
India's former Davis Cup captain Akhtar Ali discusses the secret behind Leander Paes's success with Bikash Mohapatra/Rediff.com.
Images from Day 2 of the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old became the youngest semi-finalist at Melbourne Park since American Andy Roddick, also 20, at the 2003 tournament.
Stanislas Wawrinka will bid to break the 'Big Four' strangle-hold on Grand Slam silverware after edging Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in the first semi-final.
A majestic Roger Federer emphatically returned to the Grand Slam big-time by trouncing Jo Wilfried-Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Monday to book a blockbuster quarter-final with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
Rafael Nadal defeated 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open semi-final to meet Roger Federer in dream summit clash in Melbourne.
An Australian Open electrified by the revivals of seasoned champions will bathe in the warm glow of nostalgia on Saturday when the Williams sisters contest the women's final at Rod Laver Arena.
Roger Federer held firm against a furious fightback from fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, edging his former apprentice 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 in a Melbourne Park classic to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday.
Serena and Venus Williams rolled back the years as they swept through their last four clashes to set up a retro family final at the Australian Open on Thursday, their ninth meeting in a grand slam title-decider.
Images from Day 6 of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
Champion Novak Djokovic foiled a stirring fightback from Roger Federer to defeat the Swiss 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday and charge into a fifth successive Grand Slam final.
A patient Roger Federer weathered a second set storm from Grigor Dimitrov before slapping down the Bulgarian challenger 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open and clinch his 300th win in Grand Slams.
Fernando Verdasco sent shockwaves through the Australian Open on Tuesday by defeating Rafael Nadal 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to send the former world number one crashing out in the opening round.
Spain's Rafael Nadal was at his dominant best against Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday, brushing aside his compatriot 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to move into the fourth round at the Australian Open. Images from Day 6 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
It was third time lucky for Wozniacki following her runner-up finishes at the 2009 and 2014 US Opens.
IMAGES from the Australian Open final played on Sunday
Three-times Grand Slam winner Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last January and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday having said the tournament could be his last as a professional.
IMAGES of the all the action from Day 2 of the Australian Open played at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
'If one thing seemed clear in this week of very uneven tennis in Melbourne though, the much celebrated golden age of tennis may be over.'
" As six-time Melbourne Park champion, Serena will be clear favourite, of course, more so because she has reached her 34th grand slam semi-final without losing a set. Lucic-Baroni's path to the last four has been more of a battle, as befits a woman who has overcome huge adversity to get back to the top of the game after years in the wilderness.
'I surprised myself also today'
Mischa still finds time to tease 'Sascha', despite his little brother's rapid ascent up the tennis rankings.
With the year sprinting to a close, we bring you, in pictures, some of the best action from the sports world.
Roger Federer boasted of his fitness, Maria Sharapova felt a bit rusty and Andy Murray berated himself but all three eased into the second week of the Australian Open with third round victories at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
IMAGES from Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Friday
Roger Federer is keeping a lid on expectations.
Second seed Caroline Wozniacki came through a late wobble to reach the Australian Open final for a first time with a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over Belgian Elise Mertens on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
Top 10 seeds David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet raced into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, apparently eager to make the most of relatively mild conditions at Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic reasserted his rule over the hard-courts of Melbourne Park
Images from the Australian Open matches played on Tuesday.
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