The odd parallels between the 2009, 2017 Aussie Opens
If we learned anything in history class, it's that history repeats itself.
Take the Australian Open, for example, where Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are set to meet in Sunday's final, a rematch of the 2009 championship. There are some neat - if not odd - similarities between this tournament and the one that unfolded eight years earlier, so let's get to it:
Defending champ Novak Djokovic out prematurely
2009: Djokovic flew to Melbourne as the defending champion, but retired in the quarterfinals against Andy Roddick due to heat stress. Shocked observers immediately questioned the Serb's desire to achieve greatness.
2017: Djokovic again flew to Melbourne as the defending champion, but fell in the second round to Dennis Istomin, continuing a slump that began last year. Shocked observers immediately questioned how motivated Djokovic is to break the all-time Grand Slam record.
Andy Murray loses in Round of 16
2009: Murray didn't have the pedigree eight years ago that he has now, but it was still a grand surprise when Fernando Verdasco ousted him from the tournament in the Round of 16.
2017: Murray, still looking for his first Australian Open title, was again the victim of a fourth-round upset, this time bowing out to Mischa Zverev of Germany.
Nadal's 5-set, marathon semifinal
2009: Nadal triumphed over Verdasco in a semifinal that went the distance and took five hours and 14 minutes to complete. Nadal won the fifth and deciding set, 6-4.
2017: Nadal needed five sets to fend off Grigor Dimitrov, though this semifinal didn't go quite as long - only four hours and 56 minutes, no big deal. Like he did eight years earlier, Nadal took the final set, 6-4.
Federer's extra rest day
2009: Federer had two days to recover from his semifinal against Roddick, while Nadal had just one to regroup from his physical match with Verdasco. Many wondered if Nadal could come back from such a grueling match so quickly, but he did.
2017: Federer again has the additional off-day, as he advanced past Stan Wawrinka on Thursday. Nadal has just one day to regroup from his battle with Dimitrov ... but this year we're smart enough not to question his ability to do so.