Semi final:
Novak Djokovic (1) (Serbia) v Rafael Nadal (3) (Spain)
In their 58th contest, Djokovic began well, producing two chances to break the Spanish serve. However, Nadal avoided the danger, and held.
Djokovic then appeared set to level when leading 40-15 in the next game.
Then it all fell apart. He lost the game, and was broken again in the fourth.
Nadal had no trouble serving and could do no wrong, while Djokovic was spraying shots everywhere.
At 0-5, Nadal chased down another drop shot with ease, and Djokovic was staring down a 0-6 disaster just like last years final. For once, things began to turn, and the top seed won three successive points to reach 40-15. Nadal hit yet another winner but then failed to clear the net and Djokovic was on the board.
Nadal for once trailed 0-30 after some careless shots. A Djokovic drop shot worked and he now had two break points. One was saved with a Nadal winner. The next evaporated when Djokovic hit long. Djokovic hit an overhead winner to save a set point. Nadal netted a backhand on his second set point. A long Nadal backhand and another break chance. A double fault gave Djokovic one of the breaks back. He was behind 2-5.
After a Djokovic unforced error, the pair traded forehand winners. An ace wasn’t enough for Djokovic as another mistake gave Nadal set point.
He saved it at the net with some much needed aggressive play. Another Serbian forehand winner and game point. Djokovic held for 3-5.
Nadal served for the set.
Quickly to 40-0 and three more set points. All three saved. Djokovic couldn’t save another and Nadal was ahead 6-3.
A love game on serve was a much better start for Djokovic in set two. Three errors from Nadal donated three break points to Djokovic. One was saved with a drop shot winner from Nadal. The break came when Nadal hit wide on the next point. 2-0 Djokovic.
Nadal immediately broke back to love.
The pair traded errors in game four. 30-30. A huge serve down the middle set up a winner for Nadal and he went on to hold for 2-2.
Djokovic broke for 4-2, but true to form found himself down two break back points. He saved one, and Nadal saved the other one for him. A hopeless Djokovic backhand gave Nadal another chance. Saved when Nadal found the net.
Djokovic ultimately held for 5-2.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Djokovic saved two break points before finally converting his first set point and levelling the match at 3-6 6-3.
Nadal saved two break points for 2-2, but then three successive breaks of serve occurred and Djokovic led 4-3. It took a break point to be saved but he consolidated to extend the advantage to 5-3.
Winners from both in the ninth game where Nadal held, leaving Djokovic to serve for the set.
Up 30-0, Djokovic lost the next four points to be broken, and Nadal saved two break points before holding serve and taking the lead 6-5.
Djokovic saved a set point then held to take the set into a tie break.
After the first two points went against serve, the next five were on serve and Djokovic led 4-3. He won the next point on the Nadal serve and that was sufficient for him to serve it out from 5-4 and win the set 7-6(4).
Opening the fourth set Djokovic led 30-0, but as he had done a number of times he let that lead go and Nadal broke the serve to lead 1-0.
Nadal consolidated the break for 2-0, but Djokovic won 12 of the next 13 points including a break back to lead 3-2.
Djokovic broke again to lead 4-2, and with his next service hold was one game away from another RG final.
Double fault from Nadal, then a brutal forehand from Djokovic and 0-30. A backhand miss from Nadal and three match points. One saved with a forehand winner. Nadal pushed a backhand wide and the match was over.
Novak Djokovic did the seemingly impossible, defeating the king of clay 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2.
He will fight Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
No comments:
Post a Comment