Djokovic King In Madrid
Djokovic wins his sixth trophy of the year (Foto: tenisdecamp.ro)
Novak Djokovic threatens to become the new world champion. The Serb beat Rafa Nadal in the Madrid Masters final, 7-5, 6-4, to improve his already-remarkable season record to 32-0.
Djokovic’s impressive start allowed the 23-year-old to do something perhaps no player is able to do in front of powerful Rafa Nadal. The Serb stunned the main favorite with a couple of early breaks and a 4-0 lead in the first set. Nevertheless, the Spaniard managed to come from behind and win the next four of five games. Nadal first broke Djokovic in the fifth game and then ‘imitated’ him with a second consecutive one in the ninth game.
Thus, the Serb got himself into big trouble as Nadal set a 4-5 deficit. Even more than this, the crowd favorite leveled the score to five, but his efforts stopped in the 12th game. Djokovic grabbed another late break to clinch the opener 7-5. As for the second term, it highlighted the Serb breaking Nadal early in the first game. But his joy wouldn’t last too much as the Spaniard broke back immediately. The next six games found both players going head to head and setting a 4-4 draw.
If the 24-year-old Spaniard managed to set the pace and threatened to make the comeback, in the end it was the same Djokovic to stun the 2011 Monte Carlo and Barcelona winner with a second break and a well-deserved victory. The Serb has won his sixth title of the season (Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade) and is still counting.
Said Djokovic, who aims the No. 1 position: “If I want to reach No. 1, I have to play consistent because that’s what Rafa will do and the rest of the players. It has changed, I have a different mindset right now, I’m more stable and I know how to think right.” On the other side, Rafa Nadal wouldn’t mind dropping second in the world rankings. “If I lose No. 1 it’s not the end of the world. If I lose it I will be No. 2 and I’ll be very happy,” he said after the game.
En route to the final, Djokovic beat Andy Murray’s killer Thomaz Bellucci in the semi finals and David Ferrer in the quarters, while the first two games brought the Serbian player straight-set wins over Kevin Anderson and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Concerning Nadal’s performance, the Spaniard ousted Roger Federer in the semi finals and Michael Llodra in the quarters.
The head to head series between Nadal and Djokovic is still led by the Mallorca born player who has beaten the perfect Serb 16 times in 26 meetings, last occasion at the 2010 World Tour Finals. Finally, Djokovic has left Madrid with a 590,000 euro-check and 1000 points ATP, while Rafa received 275,000 euros and 600 points.
