Australian Open 2013 - Djokovic wins thriller

Djokovic celebrates during his marathon win over Wawrinka

Australian Open 2013 Day 7 - Djokovic wins thriller

As the first week of the year's first major championships came to a close at Melbourne Park Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka played out the match of 2013 so far; an electrifying fourth round contest that will live long in the memory for all who watched it.

Djokovic eventually won through to the last eight by the narrowest of margins 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 12-10 after five hours and two minutes of thrilling tennis.

If it is not amongst the best 10 matches at the end of the season it will have been a truly incredible year.

It was Wawrinka, seeded 15th,  who came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt; producing an array of spectacular shots - most from his trademark single-handed backhand - as he raced through the opening set with three breaks of the top seed's serve.

Wawrinka was magnificent on the backhand

Djokovic broke in the opening game of the second set but back came Wawrinka as the Swiss No.2 reeled off four straight games.

Djokovic crucially held at 2-5 and Wawrinka served at 5-3 for a two sets to love lead.

The 27 year-old led 30-love before displaying nerves for the first time at a huge moment. 

Djokovic capitalised and broke back.  The Serb struck again in the eleventh game and levelled the match with a backhand winner.

When the World No.1 broke Wawrinka again to start the third - his sixth consecutive game - he was threatening to run away with the match but the Swiss player showed considerable determination and broke straight back halting the Serb's momentum.

Games went with serve before Djokovic gained a vital break at 4-4.  He served out to take a two sets to one advantage.

Again Wawrinka refused to buckle in a gripping fourth set as neither player dropped serve.  The set was decided by a tie-break - Djokovic having won all six of their previous breakers.

The Swiss went out to a 3-0 lead and never trailed.  At 3-6 Djokovic impressively saved two set points before Wawrinka levelled the match with a tremendous backhand winner down the line. 

The pair had not played out a five setter since a 2006 Davis Cup encounter - won by the Serb - and it was Wawrinka who began the decider the stronger.

The 15th seed, aiming for a second quarter final in Melbourne, broke in the opening game and held points for a 2-0 lead in a lengthy service game.  

Djokovic was often at full stretch

Djokovic eventually broke back and there would not be another break of serve for twenty games.

Wawrinka crucially fended off a break point down 3-4 and then held four break points in a thrilling ninth game.  

With the Swiss five points from victory Djokovic somehow held on to get his nose ahead 5-4.  

Suddenly the contest became service dominated as each player looked after their own delivery with ease.

Wawrinka held to stay in the match six times before stepping up again to stay alive at 10-11.

The former World No.9 led 40-15 but was pegged back by the Serb who reeled off three straight points to setup a first match point.

Wawrinka, whose serve had been superb throughout the fourth and fifth sets, nervelessly launched a thunderbolt service winner down the middle.

Djokovic created match point No.2 only to see another Wawrinka unleash another magnificent backhand winner down the line.

Again the World No.1 responded to create a third match point as the match passed the five hour mark.

One final thrilling rally saw the two gladiators stretching each other all over the court.  A Djokovic defensive backhand brought Wawrinka to the net and the Serb responded by rolling a backhand passing shot crosscourt past the Swiss.  

If ever a match deserved a great final exchange it was this one and it could not have been more fitting to finish on a terrific backhand winner.  Watch the match point here

This contest was one for the ages and as the players embraced at the net they, and all who saw it, knew it had been a very special encounter.  This was Grand Slam tennis at it's finest.

Wawrinka proved to everyone that he can play the kind of tennis that could take back into the top 10 and that his backhand truly is one of the great shots in the game.  

He showed such heart and determination that he will surely rise in the rankings during 2013.

Djokovic again displayed that he - like Nadal - is the ultimate street fighter and that it will take one hell of a performance to derail his title defence in Melbourne.  Wawrinka pushed him to the limit but it was not quite enough.

If the second week in Melbourne produces matches like this it is going to an amazing second half of the championships.

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