Career Grand Slam is next on the menu for Novak Djokovic

Nadal struggled on serve but the two men produced some startling rallies, with one game alone early in the second set lasting 17 minutes thanks to their athleticism and shot-making.

Djokovic looked home and dry when he broke to lead 3-2 in the third set but Nadal then won three of the next four games to lead 5-4.

As the clock ticked into a fourth hour the Serb looked tired while Nadal seemed rejuvenated smashing forehands into the corners.

After holding serve for 5-5 Djokovic broke again and served for the match at 6-5 but Nadal broke back and then won the tie-break 7-3 to take the match into a fourth set.

The momentum looked to be with Nadal as Djokovic had treatment for back and rib problems but the Serb broke serve to lead 2-0.

Going for his shots even more because of his sore back, Djokovic recovered his poise and broke again to lead 5-1 before serving out for victory.

As his forehand sailed into the corner to seal victory, the 24-year-old fell onto his back in joy. The only two defeats Djokovic has suffered this year were to Roger Federer in the semi-final of the French Open and to Murray in the final in Cincinnati three weeks ago, when the Serb retired with a shoulder injury while a set and 3-0 down.

Djokovic said his improvement was down to hard work and the confidence from beating the top players regularly.

"I'm going for it, I'm more aggressive and I have just a different approach to the semi-finals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger," he said. "In the last couple of years that wasn't the case, I was always trying to wait for their mistakes and not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win. This has changed, I guess."

Much has been made of his gluten-free diet - something which has inspired Murray to change his own eating habits - but coeliac Djokovic planned to make an exception as he celebrated his triumph last night.

"Tonight I will have a bunch of gluten and alcohol," he laughed.

Nadal was beaten by Djokovic at the climax of Wimbledon and has lost to the Serb in six finals out of six in 2011.

The Spaniard admitted he did not serve at his best but said he would take heart from the way he fought his way back into the match in the third set.

"I really had my chances," he said. "At the beginning I had two games to love. I was playing really well and then lost the way to play. The same in the second set.

"But I go back to Spain more happy today than after the Wimbledon Final because I think I am on the right way to try to beat him. After Wimbledon I didn't feel that."