MELBOURNE, Australia — Great and enduring rivalries have been the motor for men’s tennis in the age of the Big Four: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, the Ringo Starr of this supergroup.
Djokovic is one victory away from finally having the edge over all three of his principal rivals. He has won nine of his last 10 matches against Nadal to take a 24-23 lead. He has won 10 of the last 11 against Murray to lead, 21-9.
But Federer, the oldest of the Big Four, by far, at age 34, has proved the toughest champion for Djokovic, now in his prime, to crack.