RAFAEL NADAL’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN HIGHS AND LOWS

2009: Beats Roger Federer in an epic five-set final to land his first – and only – Open crown.

2010: Retires in third set of his semi-final against Andy Murray with a knee injury.

2011: Suffers a straight-sets quarter-final loss to Spanish compatriot David Ferrer after straining a hamstring early in the match.

2012: Loses the longest grand slam final in history to Novak Djokovic after blowing a 4-2, 30-15 fifth-set lead in the five-hour, 53-minute classic.

2013: Withdraws from the Open with a stomach virus.

2014: Sustains a back injury early in the final against Stan Wawrinka before losing in four sets to the Swiss.

2015: Crashes out in the quarter-finals after enduring his first loss in 18 matches against Czech Tomas Berdych.

2016: Loses in the first round for the first time in Melbourne, bundled out in five sets by fellow Spaniard Fernarndo Verdasco.

2017: Returns from injury-marred 2016 season to make his fourth Open final, only to be denied in five sets by his great rival Federer.

2018: Forced to retire from a quarter-final for the second time on Rod Laver Arena after suffering an upper leg injury in the fourth set against Croat Marin Cilic.