Turning point: One backhand proves crucial for Rafa

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- The turning point in the longest men's final ever at a Grand Slam came when 10-time major winner Rafael Nadal went for a bit too much on a backhand after more than 5 hours on court.

Novak Djokovic outlasted Nadal in 5 hours, 53 minutes to win a third Australian Open title, finishing off the 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 win at 1:37 a.m. on Monday.

But it could have been so different.

At 30-15 in the seventh game of the fifth set, the top-ranked Djokovic was almost exhausted and didn't even try to continue the point when Nadal lined up a backhand with the court wide open, and skewed it slightly wide down the line.

Nobody could quite believe it -- Nadal challenged the out call, but really only to regroup his thoughts. Instead of moving ahead 40-15, one point away from a 5-2 lead in the fifth set, the score became 30-30. Djokovic won the next two points and regained the momentum.

"It's true I had big mistake with 30-15," Nadal said. "But it's not moment to think about that. That's another just moment in an almost six hours match. Forget about that knowing that I really had real, very real chances to have the title and to win against a player who I lost (to) six times last year.

"But I didn't. I never put him in this situation during 2011, all 2011, so that's another positive thing for me."

Nadal has now lost seven straight finals to Djokovic, including the last three majors. No other man has lost the finals at three consecutive majors. Nadal didn't see Sunday's loss as a negative.

"I didn't have mental problems today against him," Nadal said. "I had in 2011 all these mental problems. Today I didn't have. I compete with normal conditions against him, no?

"So that's another positive thing. Probably never say that many positive things after I lose."

Nadal came to the Australian Open in 2011 aiming for a "Rafa Slam" after winning the French, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles in 2010. He was eliminated in the quarterfinals. At the French Open, Djokovic has the chance to win four consecutive majors, something no man has done since Rod Laver completed the Grand Slam in 1969.

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