Mutua Madrid Open - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Madrid, Spain, 4-11 May 2019.
Defending champion:
Alexander Zverev (2) who defeated Dominic Thiem (5) 6-4 6-4
Novak Djokovic (1) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (8)
The only time the pair had previously met was in Toronto last year, where Tsitsipas won in three sets. Djokovic would want to correct that imbalance, and also put his 2019 back on track, as his output since the Aus Open triumph has been underwhelming to say the least - losses in his second match at Indian Wells, third match at Miami, and quarters at Monte Carlo.
Much more authoritative here in Madrid, the win over Thiem in the semi final significant, but no more impressive than that of Tsitsipas over Nadal.
Djokovic served first, and lost the opening point thanks to a great return. From there, it was a delicate drop shot winner, an unexpected forehand error, two effective first serves, and a Tsitsipas mistake. All kinds of everything rolled up into a Djokovic hold.
The world #1 began his serious business with a running backhand pass, a fierce forehand return, and a well directed forehand return to worry Tsitsipas into error, creating a pair of break points. A brilliant Greek off forehand winner saved one. Tsitsipas overhit his next forehand and Djokovic broke to lead 2-0.
The consolidation occurred, despite some excellent net play by the eighth seed. An attempted drop shot by Tsitsipas was ill conceived and he hit two forehands long, the second forced by Djokovic. A second try at a drop shot in this game worked for Tsitsipas, but Djokovic remained in control, punishing his opponent with an off forehand winner to close out the game and confirm a fast 3-0 start.
Djokovic began the next game with a riveting down the line backhand winner, and he contributed a ripping forehand return winner for Tsitsipas to trail 15-30 on serve. However, the Greek star fought out the game, the highlight being his chasing down of a short ball to hit a forehand winner.
Djokovic hit another down the line backhand winner en route to holding serve and extending his lead to 4-1. In the process, Tsitsipas donated a splendid backhand cross court winner himself. The game finished with a magical moment from the top seed, who not only made ground to a pretty good drop shot, but had the ability to nurse the forehand with angle past Tsitsipas in front of his eyes.
The following two games went to serve, although Tsitsipas was taken to deuce, a place to which Djokovic had yet to visit while serving in this final.
At 2-5, serving to stay in first set contention, Tsitsipas suffered yet another backhand down the line sizzler from Djokovic to start the game. Unperturbed, some powerful Greek serving, sealed with an ace, enabled Tsitsipas to hold on and send Djokovic to the line and serve for the set.
A Djokovic off forehand winner, a backhand down the line winner, and a Tsitsipas error, gave the top seed three set points. One was wasted. The second was used, a serve unreturned. Djokovic ahead 6-3.
In set two, Tsitsipas served first, and held serve throughout most of it, the only danger appearing in game three.
Down 15-40 after a Djokovic winning forehand and his own couple of errors, Tsitsipas hung on to lead 2-1.
Although Djokovic was playing catch up, he seemed to be gaining more traction as the set evolved. He levelled at 4-4, with his first love game of the match. Then he focused on a possible break of the Greek delivery.
A mishit backhand on the first point by Tsitsipas was the ideal point of entry for Djokovic to fight for a break. Awesome defence was turned into attack by Djokovic who eventually passed Tsitsipas with a forehand for 15-30. A spectacular defensive lob from Djokovic set up a tenth backhand down the line winner and two break points. A Greek forehand was wide and Djokovic would serve for the trophy.
A Djokovic drop shot set up the forehand winner and 15-0. A Tsitsipas backhand return drifted long and 30-0. A forehand winner and two match points. Both disappeared through Serbian mistakes. A third championship point arrived, but it also vanished when Djokovic pushed a forehand wide. A fourth chance came after a competitive rally. A backhand winner sealed victory in the Mutua Madrid Open for Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4.
This was ATP Masters 1000 title #33 for Djokovic, equaling the record of Nadal.
Djokovic still dominates the world rankings now with 12,115 points, Nadal second with 7,945.
He leads the 2019 ATP Race with 3,415 points, Nadal second with 2,515.
Tsitsipas moves up to #7 in the world rankings, a new career high.
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