Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal overcame rocky starts to their careers

The Australian Open tennis tournament has reached a glorious conclusion. After all these years, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic still dominate their youthful competition — and they will meet for the championship Sunday evening in Melbourne.

Hard to believe that both men were once considered fragile, for entirely different reasons.

Djokovic stormed onto the scene in a swirl of controversy and scorn. The talent was undeniable, but he couldn’t seem to stay on the court, withdrawing from high-profile matches at the 2005 and ’06 French Opens, the 2007 Wimbledon and the 2009 Australian Open, among other tournaments. The ailments weren’t so much about damaged limbs, but rather cramps, soreness, allergies and respiratory issues.