Another Rafa masterclass but Novak remains a major player
IT WAS not the greatest match you will ever see but history was made as Rafa Nadal demolished Novak Djokovic to win his 13th French Open title. The Spaniard has only ever lost two matches on his beloved red clay in Paris. Djokovic, the world No.1, may have witnessed Rafa’s single finest performance at Roland Garros. It will dent Novak’s pride to have been so outclassed.
He played way too many drop shots and made too many errors but then you have to take into account the performance level of the opposition. Rafa made only six unforced errors in winning the first two sets 6-0, 6-2. Each time Djokovic threw something different at him he was able to respond with perfect judgement and technique.
This was their 56th match in what is, for some, the single greatest rivalry in tennis history. Djokovic leads the head-to-head count 29-27. Of those 27 have been finals and Novak has won 15.
But in grand-slam finals, Rafa has won ten to Novak’s six – including seven victories out of their eight French Open finals. So you can take your pick as to who you think will have the most impressive record when this sparkling generation of players hang up their rackets. Both will need a museum to house all their trophies. Rafa already has one at his academy in Mallorca.
The Spaniard reaches another glorious milestone, joining Roger Federer as a winner of 20 grand slams. What rivalries we have seen.
When Federer enjoyed that glorious summer of 2009 – first equalling Pete Sampras on 14 grand slams by beating Robin Soderling at the French Open and then breaking the record by claiming No.15 with victory at Wimbledon over Andy Roddick, 16-14 in the fifth, I did not imagine that only 11 years later he would be caught.
Djokovic has 17 slams and remains world No.1. I still expect him to join his two rivals at the top of the all-time majors leaderboard because he is dominant on hard courts and grass.
How fitting it would be if they were all to finish their careers on an equal number of major titles.
The tennis world next convenes in Australia in January, although those that decide to make the trip will probably leave for Oz shortly after Christmas Day. Biosecure bubbles and covid security are top of the agenda for the organisers and we wish them well as they try to prepare with so many unknowns.
Nadal may miss the last ATP Finals in London next month – probably a wise decision to save his mind and body for an assault on more records next year.
The sport could not have a more iconic champion whose attitude, work ethic and respect for his opponents are second to none. For the fourth time he wins the French Open without dropping a set and this despite apparently less than ideal conditions for his game.
Fellow players look at his record and the standard of his play and are left open mouthed. We have been lucky to have him in tennis because there is no doubt he would have excelled in any sporting field.