Nadal vs Djokovic: Fatigue from 5-Set Semifinal Win Will Hurt Djokovic

Novak Djokovic needs to make sure he gets plenty of sleep ahead of his 2012 Australian Open final match against Rafael Nadal because he will be affected physically from his five-set semifinal triumph over Andy Murray.

Per the Montreal Gazette:

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"It's difficult to describe. I was trying to focus on every point," Djokovic, who meets Rafa Nadal in Sunday's final, said in a courtside interview.

"It was a physical match. It was almost five hours. It was one of the best matches I played. Emotionally and mentally it was hard.

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The match lasted five hours, and with about a day to recover both physically and emotionally, there is no question Djokovic will be tired much quicker in the final versus Nadal than he was against Murray.

Djokovic had to expend so much energy fighting off so many excellent shots from Murray, but in remarkable fashion the Serbian star was able to dig deep and find a reserve of energy to outlast Murray.

I seriously doubt Djokovic will have that reserve of energy and physical strength against Nadal if he gets in trouble.

The key for Djokovic to beat Nadal is to take the first set. If Nadal takes the first set, especially one that goes to a tiebreaker, Djokovic will have a difficult time taking three of the next four sets to win the championship.

Djokovic will be ready for Nadal mentally, but the challenge to be ready physically will be quite difficult.

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"What can be a bigger challenge than playing Rafa Nadal, one of the greatest players," Djokovic added.

"I'm going to try to recover and obviously it is going to be physical as well, so I'm going to do some push-ups tonight."

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Djokovic is the best men's player in the world and has been dominating the competition in Melbourne this month, but if he doesn't have enough energy to last four or five sets with Nadal, he will lose in the final.