Novak Djokovic has won a record seventh Australian Open title in emphatic fashion, putting on a sheer masterclass to outplay Rafael Nadal from first game to last.
Djokovic triumphed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 to move past Roger Federer and Roy Emerson as the outright leader in Australian Open titles.
More tantalisingly yet, it has marked a stunning run of major wins for the Serb, having now won Wimbledon, the US Open and now the Australian Open in succession, meaning an extremely rare non-calendar Grand Slam is on the cards for Djokovic if he wins this year's French Open.
Even with Nadal on form on his favoured clay, Djokovic will be a huge bet to clinch a Roland Garros title, having inflicted some serious mental scars in an incredible performance on Rod Laver Arena to comprehensively defeat the Spaniard.
In celebration, Djokovic got down on both knees, pumped his fists and roared in elation.
"I'm just trying to contemplate on my journey in the last 12 months," Djokovic said after the match.
"Rafa has been through surgery and [I've had] quite a major injury myself in the last couple of years [and had] surgery exactly 12 months ago," he said, referring to the elbow injury that at one point looked like it would derail his 2018 season.
"To be standing now here in front of you today and managing to win this title and three out of four slams, this is a truly amazing. I'm speechless," he said.
Nadal could only acknowledge Djokovic was the better player on the night.
"It has been a very emotional two weeks. Even if tonight wasn't my best day, of course, I have someone that played much better than me tonight," Nadal said.
Djokovic got off to an electrifying start in the final, racing to a 3-0 lead with two breaks of the Nadal serve, constantly putting pressure on Nadal's forehand on the stretch to eventually take the set 6-3.
It was a first-set masterclass from the Serb, who won 100 per cent of his points on his first serve and five out of six on his second, with Nadal finding no answer to the early onslaught as Djokovic clinched 12 winners to his opponent's six.
Spectators were stunned to see Nadal miss a regulation forehand in an embarrassing air swing on the baseline, while another return of serve in the second set saw him catch the frame of the racquet as everything seemed to go against the Spaniard.
Despite this, Nadal surged back to find his groove on the baseline, outmatching Djokovic for winners in the second set, and yet still Djokovic found an answer as his incredible momentum continued.
As Djokovic played a baseline drop shot, both players found themselves up at the net as Nadal unexpectedly responded with a close-range drop of his own, before Djokovic flicked the ball back, giving Nadal not enough time to get a solid return as his lob sailed long. Djokovic had broken again, and led 3-2 on his serve.
Nadal double faulted early in his next service game, which gave Djokovic the chance to break yet again, before serving out his final game to love to take a 2-0 lead.
Djokovic broke in the third game of the third set, and that proved enough of a difference for him to convert to a straight-sets win, a seventh Australian Open title, and the prospect of a non-calendar Grand Slam very much on the cards.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
