Djokovic and Del Potro set for big clash of styles in U.S. Open final
NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic heads into his U.S. Open final clash with Juan Martin del Potro on today knowing he faces a challenge - a very big challenge indeed.
“He’s a big-time player. He’s a bigmatch player. He’s a Grand Slam winner. He’s playing tennisof his life, without a doubt, in the last 15 months,” Djokovic said on Friday of his “dear friend” Del Potro.
“He’s playing powerful tennis.”
Clearly Djokovic will have to neutralize some really the 6’6” Argentine’s blistering serve at the Arthur Ashe Stadium: Del Potro fired 68 aces during the tournament, winning 82 percent of his first serve points.
He came crashing into this year’s tournament, winning his first 12 sets in a row and toppling his first two opponents in under two hours each.
There are other important statistics to consider, however, which clearly suggest that brain will play as significant a part as brawn on Sunday.
Djokovic has 13 Grand Slam titles; Del Potro has just one, a U.S. Open championship he wrested from then-defending champion Roger Federer in 2009.
The Serbian sixth seed is making his eighth U.S. Open final appearance, tying an professional era record, while Del Potro, seeded third, is playing in a Grand Slam final for just the second time.
Djokovic also leads Del Potro 14-4 in their head-to-head encounters.
If Del Potro relies heavily on power, Djokovic, fresh from winning the Wimbledon title two months ago, is a master tactician who never gives up on a point. He may be out-hit - but he is rarely out-thought.
The Serb has saved 72 percent of break points against him during the tournament, while getting 82 percent of his returns in, more than any other competitor at Flushing Meadows this year.
He struggled through broiling temperatures, surviving a first-round scare during which officials brought a trash can to a sweat-drenched Djokovic fearing he might vomit from heat-related illness. A responsible unbeaten century from skipper Christopher Barnwell spared the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) from an embarrassing situation as they ended the first day on 233 - 8, leading by eight runs after snatching first innings points from the University of Guyana (UG) in the first semi-final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), GISE, Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall first division two-day competition at DCC, yesterday.
DCC, replying to UG’s first innings score of 225, were tottering at 35 – 4, staring at the prospect of being skittled out cheaply and not making it into the final.
The men dismissed were Raymond Perez (4), bowled by Ray Newton; Trevon Griffith (13), bowled by Newton, while off-spinner Dennis Heywood accounted for Sachin Singh (7) and Tevin Imlach (0).
They went to tea interval on 50 – 4 with UG in the ascendancy.
Barnwell, however, took the game away from the visitors in an uncharacteristic manner as he bided
But he bounced back to enter today’s match with a 13-set winning streak, leaving in his wake a series of stunned opponents.
One of those was Australia’s John Millman, who caused a major shock by defeating Federer in the fourth round.
“Novak sometimes flies under the radar a little bit. But the guy’s won a lot of Grand Slams, and he knows how to win them,” Millman said after losing to Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
“He’s probably one of the most in-form players.”
Even Del Potro accepts that the odds are on Djokovic’s side. But he refused to rule out a shock. Brawn, he suggested, may have its day on Sunday.
“He’s playing so good. He will be the favorite to win on Sunday,” Del Potro said. “But I don’t know. When I played Roger (Federer) nine years ago, he was the favorite to win, as well.
“I will try to make the surprise again.” his time and eased to his 50 before racing to his century, batting with the tail as DCC ended the day counting their lucky stars.
Barnwell, who soaked up the pressure in what many called his most responsible knock, struck nine fours and 11 sixes in his unbeaten 140.
He shared in an unbroken 93-run, ninth-wicket stand with Totoram Bishun (6) a partnership which practically rescued the defending champions.
The day began with DCC winning the toss and inviting the visitors to take first strike.
That decision resulted in an exciting first session as UG went to lunch with the score on 160 – 5 from 34 overs, scoring at nearly five runs per over.
DCC drew first blood when Barnwell dislodged Godfrey Matthews (2) with the score on 11 before Pavindralall Persaud (1) fell via the run-out route three runs later to leave the students in early trouble.
UG, from that point on could have folded, but made a fist of it and took the bowlers on as skipper, Melroy Stephenson (22) and Omesh Danram staged a mini-recovery to take the score to 48 before Barnwell struck again to