Australian Open 2012 Finals: Nadal vs. Djokovic Epic Match Sets Up Great Year

Sunday's 2012 Australian Open Final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was an absolutely fantastic way to start the tennis season, and the hope is that the rest of the year will be just as great. 

As the first Grand Slam of the year, tennis really needed to kick off with a bang. The semifinals match between Andy Murray and Djokovic gave extra hype for the final, but there was no guarantee it would reach epic status.

After five hours and 53 minutes, Djokovic beat Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 to win back-to-back Australian Open titles. 

The stellar match was better than anyone could have predicted, and the rest of the season needs to build on it.

These outstanding matches to determine who wins it all are perfect for tennis. Not only do they give fans great excitement, they also get people talking about the sport more, which in turn could bring in more fans. 

Nobody wants to see a quick and boring tennis match, especially at a Grand Slam finals event. 

Djokovic is a rising star in tennis, and his spectacular season last year built up a lot of hype for this season. He definitely delivered on it, proving that he truly is the best player in the world right now. 

The Serbian told the Associated Press that he feels great and can't wait to win more. 

"The facts are that I'm at the peak of my career," Djokovic said. "I feel physically and mentally at the peak, I feel strong, I feel motivated, I feel eager to win more trophies." 

This is something he can definitely accomplish, and with Murray playing better, plus the always great play of Nadal and Roger Federer, men's tennis is seriously heating up. 

The 2012 Australian Open gave fans greatness, and it will continue throughout the season as those four stars keep playing at a very high level, making for superb Grand Slam tournaments.