Day 12 of the Wimbledon 2018 Championships was Ladies Singles Final Day, and the entree to the main course was the conclusion of the second men’s semi final between Rafa Nadal (2) and Novak Djokovic (12).
The pair would resume with Nadal opening the fourth set, trailing two sets to one. Ripping Nadal backhand winner 15-15. 30-15 after a long Djokovic attempt. 30-30 following a wide Nadal shot. Forehand winner from Spain and game point. Deuce after backhand return winner, Nadal found the net and break point. Service winner saved it. Game point. Return winner and deuce. Game point. Nadal met the net and another trip to deuce. A repeat dose of the net and break point number two. Saved with an overhead winner at the net. Backhand Djokovic winner and sixth deuce. Nadal backhand and game point.
It took a long time but Nadal led 1-0.
0-15 after Djokovic forehand pushed wide. 0-30 following Djokovic into the net. Ace and 15-30. Nadal winning at the net 15-40. Broken on the first chance. 2-0 Nadal.
Nadal winner and 30-0. Another and three game points. A down the line winner and love game 3-0 Nadal.
A love game also from Djokovic and 1-3. Nadal working the net well again 15-0. Great return surprised Nadal into error 15-15. Djokovic winner and Nadal error meant two break back points. A long Spanish shot cost Nadal his serve and Djokovic had burst out of his lethargy to trail 2-3.
Top volley from Djokovic 30-0. Nadal wide and three game points. Serve held for 3-3.
Djokovic forehand drew a mistake 15-15. Nadal overheard winner 30-15. Game points. Second of them did the job 4-3 to Spain.
Double fault Djokovic 0-15. Service better 15-15. Into the net. 15-30. Net again and two break points. One saved with a good serve. Not the next and at 5-3 Nadal would serve for the set.
0-40 after a Djokovic winner, a Nadal error and a double fault. One saved. And the second. And the third. Set point.
Nadal won the set 6-3 after Djokovic wasted so many break chances.
At least the Serb would be serving first in the decider, but he needed to up his game and not be so conservative. He played too much into Nadal’s hitting zone, especially when rallying on his own serve in the fourth set, proving costly.
An ace for 40-0 Djokovic in the opening game of the fifth set. Serve held 1-0.
30-30 on the Nadal serve after each contributed errors. Nadal held for 1-1. Djokovic ace and backhand winner helped him to 40-15. Ace sealed it 2-1
Nadal levelled 2-2 with a love game. A Djokovic forehand winner and 30-15. A backhand winner and 40-15. An ace and 3-2.
Quick as you like another love game from Nadal, complete with two aces, and 3-3.
Djokovic forced Nadal into error three times, Nadal responded with the trick once himself, but for the fourth time Djokovic did it and won the game to lead 4-3
Nadal survived a double fault and a break point to tie it up at 4-4.
Three unforced Djokovic errors saw him facing two break points, but he won the next four points by forcing Nadal into error twice, serving an ace, and sealing the game with a backhand winner. 5-4.
Nadal fought back from 0-30 with an ace and forcing Serbian errors 5-5
Djokovic held serve, a backhand volley winner key to the success. 6-5.
Nadal held with three forehand winners 6-6. 2 Djokovic aces and a forehand winner 7-6.
An ace finished the game from Nadal which made it 7-7. In a lengthy service game, where deuce was visited multiple times, Djokovic saved some break points, and amazing tennis was played, the end result a service hold 8-7 Djokovic.
Nadal saved a match point and it was 8-8. Two Djokovic forehand winners and he led 9-8. These two were holding up the ladies final, but entertaining the crowd nevertheless.
Djokovic, with a backhand winner and two forcing Nadal errors, had three match points. One was enough and he won an epic encounter after 5 hours 14 minutes 6-4 3-6 7-6(9) 3-6 10-8.
Djokovic increased his head to head lead over Nadal to 27-25, but no one will extend anything but congratulations to both players for yet another top of the shelf exhibition of tennis. This rivalry is unmatched in the modern era for its competitiveness, dignity, mutual respect, and absolute class.
Rafa will remain world number one, while Novak is well and truly back and has a big chance of snaring a fourth Wimbledon crown.
This would see him move past John McEnroe and Boris Becker in terms of multiple wins. However Kevin Anderson will have something to say about that in Sunday’s finale.
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