Rafael Nadal has spoken about his record-breaking Australian Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic, saying he thought it would never end.
The Spaniard lost in five sets to the Serbian 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6, 5-7 in a match that lasted five hours and 53 minutes, making it both the longest match ever played in Melbourne and the longest in Grand Slam final history.
Both players showed an enormous will to win, with the duo's level of endurance rightfully praised, as arguably the quality of tennis improved the longer the match went on.
The ten-time Grand Slam winner said: "You look around and you see the watch, five hours, four hours, three hours, finally five hours 53. It seems like it's never going to finish.
"But it's nice to be there fighting, trying to go to the limit."
He added: "It's something I really enjoy and I always said it is good to suffer.
"When you are fit and have passion for the game you are able to enjoy suffering."
Nadal was positive in defeat, despite this being the seventh time in a row Djokovic has beaten him in a final, and insisted it showed he can compete with the world number one, after claiming he had a mental block when playing against him last year.