Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: 2011 Magic Will Carry into New Year for Djoker

When the 2012 Australian Open comes to an end, it will be eerily similar to what we saw so often in 2011. Novak Djokovic will be standing with the trophy and Rafael Nadal will be the runner up. 

Djokovic is again proving that he's hands down the best player in the world, especially during Grand Slams. Djokovic was rarely tested in Grand Slams in 2011 but when it came time to step up against Roger Federer in the 2011 US Open semifinals, he did just that. 

The Australian Open semifinal match against Andy Murray was eerily similar. Djokovic fell down, was facing elimination against one of the best in the world and fought back to win. 

As great as Rafael Nadal is, he is not playing at Djokovic's level right now and is certainly not going to beat him on a hard court. On clay, the edge would certainly go to Rafa while on grass it would be a push. But Djokovic is best on hard courts, and that's going to show in the finals. 

The advantages that Nadal had over Federer aren't going to be there over Djokovic. Novak has incredible endurance and speed, is a year younger than Nadal and has put nowhere near the same kind of stress on his body.

So, when the two meet at the end of Grand Slams, the edge is always going to go to Djokovic. He has more gas left in the tank and except for the French Open, is at least on par with Nadal on the surface. 

It is certainly hard to say that Djokovic will have the same kind of season that he enjoyed in 2011, but that's not up for debate here. All we're looking at now is one match between Djokovic and Nadal.

The edge goes to the world No. 1 in Djokovic. He will win his fifth career Grand Slam and third Australian Open. Nadal's revenge for beating Djokovic in two Grand Slam finals in 2011 will have to wait until the French Open. 

Prediction:

Novak Djokovic	6	4	6	6
Rafael Nadal	2	6	4	3

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