Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the Australian Open men's final. It's a clash between two of the game's greatest ever players as world number one, Novak Djokovic locks horns with world number two, Rafael Nadal. Indeed, a 14-time Grand Slam winner battles a 17-time major champion in the most anticipated clash of a fledgling season so far. It's the 25th time these two have faced off in a tour final - an Open era record - and it's fair to say the buzz is tangible as the players prepare to get underway on Rod Laver Arena at approximately 08.30 GMT.

N. Djokovic vs R. Nadal | Australian Open

Men's Singles | Final | 27.01.2019 | Rod Laver Arena

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N. Djokovic (1)

R. Nadal (2)

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Live Updates

ByTom Adams

Updated 27/01/2019 at 11:14 GMT

DJOKOVIC 4-1 NADAL. Too good. Djokovic reasserts his authority with a third love hold of the match. Nadal must feel like he's under constant pressure.

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DJOKOVIC 3-1 NADAL. Rafa finally gets going, but Nole still pushes him hard. The Serb's defence is quite remarkable. His elasticity and speed around the court, along with a crisp backhand winner tee up another break point. However, this time Rafa fends it off and finds some big serves to help him dig out a hold from deuce. He's on the board after a very shaky opening.

DJOKOVIC 3-0 NADAL. Rafa is getting the treatment. Djoker is cruising right now. He surges to a love hold, consolidating the break with a second ace of the match.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 2-0 NADAL. Nole is dialled in here! He attacks a clearly nervous Rafa and tees up double break point, jumping into a crosscourt backhand winner along the way. Nadal goes too big trying to save them and lashes the forehand long to cough up an early break. It's been a terrible start for the Spaniard.

DJOKOVIC 1-0 NADAL. The world number one lays down a statement of intent with a dominant love hold. He serves big, lands an ace and dictates what proves to be the concluding rally to force the error.

08.46

Here we go!

Djokovic won the toss and will serve first in the 2019 Australian Open final.

We are tantalisingly close to getting this contest underway.

Djokovic v Nadal: 'We can promise one thing: both of us will give absolutely everything.'

Watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player

The players have only met once before at this tournament with Novak coming out on top. That was after an epic five hour and 53 minute final back in 2012.

The Greatest Match? Reliving Djokovic and Nadal's epic 2012 final

FINALS IN MELBOURNE: Djokovic is looking to maintain his 100 per cent record in the Australian Open final and become the first man to win seven titles here.

Meanwhile, Nadal is hoping to become the first player in the Open era to win each Slam at least twice. He won his first final Down Under back in 2009, but has since had to settle for the runner-up spot on four occasions.

Image credit: Reuters

The last time Nadal and Djokovic met in a Grand Slam final, it was the Spaniard who came through in four sets at the 2014 French Open. The players have met in seven major finals in total, with Nadal edging that record 4-3. The Spaniard has won nine of the 14 matches they have played at Grand Slam events.

Image credit: Reuters

The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal is one for the ages and this Australian Open final promises to be another classic.

Ben Grounds looks forward to another titanic clash.

Australian Open

Djokovic v Nadal – How we reached the ‘Game of the Century’

25/01/2019 at 16:51

HEAD-TO-HEAD: This is an ATP record-extending 53rd encounter between the players with Djokovic edging the match-up 27-25. The Serb triumphed the last time they met in a pulsating five-set Wimbledon semi final last summer. Nole has won eight of the past 10 showdowns.

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