Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will meet in the Australian Open final on Sunday, in what could be argued is the biggest match of both of their careers.
After all, they are both vying to create their own piece of history, forging a storyline that few would have imagined when the tournament began.
Many will back the younger of the two to prevail, especially after both semi-final matches were so physically demanding.
And, Carlos Alcaraz has actually now admitted that he will look to Rafael Nadal for further inspiration, a notion which might leave Novak Djokovic worried.
Carlos Alcaraz to get help from Rafael Nadal for the Australian Open final
Speaking in the Spanish portion of his press conference, Alcaraz actually explained how Nadal will inadvertently be helping him in this upcoming Australian Open final.
After all, the physical efforts he showed back in 2012, 14 years ago, have provided the inspiration for him as he seeks to recover after such a tough five-and-a-half-hour encounter with Alexander Zverev.
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The 22-year-old first noted: “Well, the truth is that it was an incredible match.
“I think in that fifth set, when I was feeling a little bit better physically, the first game came, and I think that was an impressive game. I think that lasted 34 games, playing at a really high level.
“But honestly, I didn’t feel like I was going to retire at any point. I always thought I was going to come back, but worse things have happened; I’ve come back from worse things.
“I always trusted that I was going to come back in the fifth set. It’s true that there were several games, especially with his serve, where I had a break point, which I didn’t take advantage of, and that caused me some concern, a little.
“But it also made me believe that at any moment, the break could come. Closing out a match of this magnitude is never easy. I knew I was going to have my opportunities, and I tried to take advantage of them. I think in that game [where he broke] I went all out, and in the end things worked out well because I went out there to create them.”
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He then looked ahead to the final, and referring to Nadal, he added: “On Sunday, well, we’re going to try to be as good as possible. We’re going to try to do everything in our power to be as decent as possible.
“Well, it reminds me a bit of when Rafa had that great semifinal in Australia and then thought he wouldn’t be able to do it, only to lose in the fifth set.
“I think in a Grand Slam final, you never know, you can say you’re tired and you shouldn’t give it your all. I think the match will carry us along, you know? It’ll carry us to a good final.
“Doing what Rafa did is a clear way of saying that the body can endure it, although if your mind is there or if your mind has things clear.”
Djokovic revealed what Alcaraz said to him before his win over Sinner, speaking in his press conference.
Remembering Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s iconic 2012 Australian Open final
The final in question that Alcaraz references remains, for many, one of the greatest in the sport’s history.
Having beaten Roger Federer in the semi-finals and watched Djokovic brawl through a gruelling five-set match with Andy Murray, Nadal was likely favoured to take advantage of his physically drained opponent.
Ironically, Alcaraz will seek to do the same this Sunday.
To emphasise the legacy behind this particular clash, it remains the longest match in Australian Open history and the longest major singles final of all time.
The iconic image of both Nadal and Djokovic needing chairs during the championship speeches, because they had both given so much, is indicative of the incredible efforts both men expended in an all-out five-set war.
In the end, it was the Serbian who came out on top despite being a set down, eventually winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.
