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Match Study: Djokovic vs. Nadal in Madrid
8 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Novak Djokovic opts to be the man in black today, after sporting his all white Sergio Tacchini outfit earlier in the week. This is a bold statement, Djokovic comfortable in the role as Darth Vader to Rafa’s Luke Skywalker.
Djokovic serves first and is composed like a machine however he falls into a 15-40 hole but digs his way out. His confidence is sky high, nothing seems to be able to rattle him. 1-love, Djokovic.
Rafa looks lean and mean and ready for this hotly anticipated showdown but there’s a sense that he is vulnerable to Djokovic, the previous two losses in Miami and Indian Wells finals have chipped away at his previous stranglehold over the Serbian. It’s different now and right off the bat Djokovic breaks Rafa to go up 2-0.
Djokovic is rolling, he goes up 40-love. Nadal looks a bit deflated and confused. Sellout crowd in Madrid is silent. They did not expect to see their king conquered in this manner today. Djokovic is unbeaten in 2011 and has mastered all surfaces. It’s 3-love.
Djokovic has clearly gained the mental edge from the narrow win in Miami, his first ever close win over the Spaniard. Nadal serving and down 0-30. Djokovic is running everything down and sending it back with interest. His defense appears superior to Rafa’s. “Jaw-dropping stuff,” says commentator Jason Goodall. Nadal is simply shellshocked. Love-4!
Djokovic serving and Rafa return deep with spin down the middle and Djokovic snatches at is a bit casually. His shot hits the cord and falls short. Suddenly Nadal capitalizes and in a blink it’s 2-4.
Djokovic nails another “jaw-dropping” backhand crosscourt acute winner after a 26-shot rally. Djokovic goes on to win the game and go up 5-2. But Nadal holds at love, 5-3.
These are tricky circumstances but Djokovic looks supremely confident that he will prevail. Suddenly Djokovic misses a few shots and he is broken, 5-4.
Nadal holds after a very long 17-minute game with many deuces, 5-5.
The younger Djokovic might have buckled but this mature and stronger Djokovic raises his level in crunch time and holds without trouble for a 6-5 lead.
Nadal serves but suddenly after some pinpoint deep returns and two fortunate net cord winners, Djokovic wins four more straight points – that’s eight in a row – to take the first set, 7-5.
Second set:
Nadal breaks at love with an amazing tweener lob winner. Djokovic smiles and applauds the genius of Rafa.
But Djokovic breaks right back and gives another muted but intense fist pump to his box.
Commentator Robby Koenig: “This is about the self belief Djokovic has now when taking on Nadal.”
Another incredible point by Djokovic forces Nadal to net a forehand. Djokovic pounds his chest and glares in the direction of his box and Rafa.
Nadal nets a backhand after another long point, most of which seem to be won by Djokovic. “Miami all over again isn’t it?” asks Koenig.
At 3-3 the crowd seems worried for their native son and the Serbian invader seems, well, unbeatable. And that he is so far in 2011. Djokovic is an iron man and Rafa is giving this fight every ounce of his being. They battle to 4-4.
Djokovic holds for 5-4 then again raises his level with two big, aggressive returns. He’s turning up the heat on Rafa who can’t handle it. Another backhand winner punctuated by a lion roar makes it 0-40 for Djokovic, triple match point. Two points later, a Nadal backhand slice misses wide and the new king of tennis is crowned with the Ion Tiriac trophy and Madrid Masters Series title, his third of the year.
Though the rankings say otherwise, there is a new king of tennis. Befittingly, the arena sound system blares the classic pop hit “Simply The Best” by Tina Turner in tribute to the unbeaten soon-to-be 24-year-old Novak Djokovic, who now has mastered Nadal on clay and will likely win the 2011 French Open, among numerous other titles this season which continues to get better and better for the charismatic and colorful Serbian superstar.
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Dan markowitz · May 9, 2011 at 11:14 am
Nice match summary, Scoop. I don’t think you can say outright that Djoko is the huge favorite in Paris after beating Nadal in Madrid. I’d say it’s 50-50 right now, but if Djoko wins in Rome it slides the Serb’s favor.
Djoko did smile I saw once when Rafa nailed a big forehand on the line. Rare to see Rafa or Federer ever smile during a match. Perhaps Agassi smiled the most of champions. Djoko is supremely confident. Wearing white or black with tape on his left knee, he is looking like he can win in so many ways.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Of course you can’t say Djokovic is the heavy favorite after all that Nadall has accomplished on clay and at Roland Garros. However, the reality may be that by the way Djokovic is playing and how he has handled Nadal that Djokovic may indeed actually indeed be the heavy favorite and will breeze through to capture his second slam in a row. But out of respect for Nadal it’s just impossible to risk saying or writing it.
Roland · May 9, 2011 at 5:51 pm
IMO the turning point of the match was Djokovic immediately breaking back in the 2nd. That was big. Money shot was obviously the Djokovic backhand smash… Well…not the smash of course but the Djokovic backhand was smashing all match.
Small talk aside, I think the most impressive thing about Novak is the variety on his BH, yesterday it seemed he intentionally measured the pace of his every BH stroke, and he did perfectly.
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2011 at 1:27 am
Hi Roland, Welcome to the site. That snapping backhand was just vicious yesterday, so many point enders. Like a KO punch. Nole had many more backhand winners than Nadal did. I agree, that early Rafa break in the second changed the match but then Djokovic restored order immediately. Key moment of the match for sure. It seemed Nole could raise his level whenever he needed to, which Rafa was unable to do. Great match and a very important one which will have an influence on how the summer plays out.
Sakhi · May 10, 2011 at 4:39 am
Rome is slower —that should help Nadal. And I’m sure Uncle Toni is coming up with a different strategy against Djokovic, should they meet in the finals again. My money is still on Nadal. Djokovic is on a tear but it ends in Rome!
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm
That’s what they said was going to happen in Madrid. But the Djokovic Express keeps on plowing forward, wrecking everything in it’s path and taking no prisoners!
Sakhi · May 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm
P.S. To quote Federer, Madrid surface appears faster than Miami!! So, not quite the same, no? Thought, I do agree that Djoker seems to be on a tear–I just don’t buy this ridiculous upsurge in form. It’s got to break down soon—and perhaps it’s time for Nadal to experience the nonsense that Federer has been put through. This is a great time for men’s tennis overall, so we should just celebrate that.
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Absolutely agree with that it’s a great time for the ATP with this fabulous top three and how different they are and how they play.