Nadal, Djokovic worn down before Australian Open final

MELBOURNE, Australia — If anyone knows how Novak Djokovic feels after sweating and scrapping for almost five hours in the Australian Open semifinals, it’s his next opponent — Rafael Nadal.

A day after Nadal beat Roger Federer in four compelling sets, Djokovic dug deep to overcome Andy Murray 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 yesterday in 4 hours, 50 minutes.

Defending champion Djokovic will face Nadal in a third straight Grand Slam final. It’s a reversal from three years ago, when Nadal had to regroup after his own lengthy semifinal.

The Spaniard needed 5 hours, 14 minutes in 2009 to get past Fernando Verdasco in the longest men’s singles match in the tournament’s history.

Yet when the final rolled around, he beat Federer — who had an extra day to rest — in five sets that reduced the Swiss player to tears.

Now a weary Djokovic has less than 48 hours to prepare to face Nadal, one of the most fit players in the game.

“I know that I maybe have a mental edge because I’ve won six finals. ... We played in 2011 and I’ve had lots of success against him,” Djokovic said. “That’s going to be my main priority and concern the next day and a half, to physically be able to perform my best and be ready to play five sets.”

Djokovic won 10 titles in 2011, six of them by beating Nadal in finals. Just as Nadal has the mental edge over Federer, Djokovic has developed a hold over the Spaniard.