Roland Garros: 18-ace Federer Dispels Djokovic’s Streak To Set Nadal Dream Final
Federer destroy Djokovic's 41-win season streak to reach final
Roger Federer has broken Djokovic’s 43-0 unique streak after outclassing the second favorite 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 just before the sunset to meet Rafa Nadal in the big final.
The 29-year-ols Swiss hit 18 aces past the 24-year-old Serb who couldn’t find his pace on the Phillipe Chatrier Court where the longest rally found the two exchanging 27 hits. The opener started with a couple of breaks, one apiece, the first one to go one game adrift being Roger who was both leveled and denied immediately by a lively Djokovic. The next three games went normally as both players held their serves consistently, while the sixth showed the Serb building a 4-2 lead he should have converted into a minimal advantage.
Unfortunately, Nole failed to do so, allowing thus the opponent to break him right afterwards and make it 4-4. The two then held their serves until the tie-break. Federer’s great start helped him to go 4-2 adrift at one point, advantage he wouldn’t drop until the end. Finally, the Swiss stole the opener after clinching the tie-break 7-5. The second set also looked tight, the third seed managing to break Nole in the fourth game to grab a 4-1 lead. On the other side, the Serb, winner of seven titles this season, could only hold his service and thus concede the second term to three.
Djokovic made a very good start in the third, something which permitted him to take a 2-0 early lead and power through to a 4-1 consistent advantage. He then threatened his opponent with a late comeback, winning the third set 6-3. Concerning the fourth set, its first break was claimed in the ninth game. Djokovic stunned the Swiss with a 5-4 that should have propelled him to a leveler. Unfortunately for the second favorite, Nole was broken back immediately as Roger was pushing the set into another tie-break. Just like in the opener, the 29-year-old, who hadn’t beaten the Serb previously this season, built himself a three mini-break lead he converted into a huge victory.
The Swiss finished the game with 18 aces, 48 winners, four breaks out of 25 attempts and a 65 percentage of first serve, while Djokovic could barely hit seven aces and 40 winners. Roger committed 46 unforced errors compared to 41 from Nole. The head to head series between the two have now gone 14-9 to the Swiss who had previously defeated the Australian Open champion at the 2010 World Tour Finals in London. Djokovic’s last victory dates from the 2011 Indian Wells event, leading at the same time this year’s head to head confrontations with Roger 3-1.
Roger, who is chasing his second French Open title of career, will next play world champion Rafa Nadal who has also flown into the final after passing Andy Murray 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. The 24-year-old Spaniard stunned the Scott, who declared he has made his best French Open performance ever, with an early double break in the opener, managing to go four games adrift in almost half an hour.
Murray won his first service but conceded the next two to allow the main favorite and winner of five Roland Garros titles to clinch the first set in one hour. Concerning the second set it found the two exchanging five breaks. Nadal first broke the fourth seed Scott in fifth game only to be denied on his next service. The world champion grabbed another one right afterwards, but it was Murray to stun him with a 4-4 leveler.
At that point, the two suggested a tie-break would be needed to provide the term winner. But Nadal closed the second set earlier, breaking Murray in the 11th game to make it 6-5 and serve for a two-set advantage. The Spaniard then held his service to go one step from the final. Finally, the third set highlighted the same Rafa grabbing an early break he would keep until the end of the meeting.
Both players held their serves, while Murray was desperately chasing his comeback. Fortunately for Nadal, his great play permitted him to keep Murray away from a break to clinch the victory in two hours and 17 minutes. The Spaniard finished the game with three aces, 34 winners and six of 13 breaks, but he also committed 31 unforced errors. On the other side, Murray came up with four aces, 30 winners and 40 errors. Apart from this, Nadal set 73 percentage of first serve, while the Scott finished with 64%.
Said Murray: “Everyone seems to think it’s easy against Rafa to just come into the net or come in or go for big shots, but you do have to be very patient. Sometimes I didn’t quite get the ball I was looking for, and sometimes when I did I made a few mistakes. But I think it was a close match. I don’t think there was too much in it. He just played better than me today.”
The head to head series between Nadal and Murray have now gone 11-4 to the Spaniard who had previously beaten the Briton at this year’s Monte Carlo Masters. As for Murray, his last win over the world champion comes from the 2010 Toronto Masters.
Nadal will meet Federer for the 25th time, the head to head confrontations being still led by the first one who has defeated the former world champion and fellow 16 times, last occasion at the 2011 Madrid Masters. Roger’s last win dates from the 2010 World Tour Finals the Swiss won last December. This will also be their 19th final meeting of career. Rafa leads even the last term confrontations with 12 wins compared to Roger’s six.
Roland Garros Prize Money and points:
Winner – 1,200,000 euro and 2000 points ATP
Finalist – 600,000 euro and 1,200 points ATP
Semi finalist – 300,000 euro and 720 points ATP
Quarter finalist – 150,000 euro and 360 points ATP
R16 – 75,000 euro and 180 points ATP
R32 – 42,000 euro and 90 points ATP
R64 – 25,000 euro and 45 points ATP
R128 – 15,000 euro and 10 points ATP
