While Nadal seemed overwhelmed by Djokovic's relentless style last July at Wimbledon, Australia showed that the gap between the two players may be narrowing.
Eleven miles to the southwest of Saint-Tropez, the Domaine du Rayol is a garden overlooking the sea, which brings together the best of Mediterranean and Mediterranean-style landscapes, from Provence to Australia.
Australia will now hope for a rejuvenation in the style of previous teams led by Allan Border in the late 1980s and then with the likes of bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne demolishing opponents up until 2005.
The Welsh-born leader offered a neat summation of her political style with the first two words she uttered as prime minister on the floor of Australia's House of Representatives.