Djokovic driven to his finest by best of British
There is arguably no higher expression of sport than Novak Djokovic against a worthy opponent. Andy Murray must have been getting pretty sick of being the second name on that bill of late, however.
So today is his chance. he is 2-1 down to Djokjovic, tied 3-3 in the fourth set. his game was in the ascendancy when bad light and the threat of a mighty thunderstorm curtailed play at 8.30pm local time. Djokovic looked uncomfortable. Murray looked as if he had the will to make him so when play resumes at lunchtime today.
either way, this was an epic recovery by Britain’s No 1.
On the way to each one of the greatest triumphs of his career — the US Open, Wimbledon and the Olympics — Murray has defeated Djokovic. Not lately, though. he has endured a run of seven defeats including the season’s first Grand Slam final in Australia.
It isn’t that Murray doesn’t give Djokovic a game. he gives him a great game, possibly the greatest out there right now. he invariably brings out the best in his opponent, as he did yesterday.
The break to win the third set was epic — up there with the finest tennis you will see this year, the finest ever played by a Briton.
But that’s the problem, right there. The better Murray plays, the more it focuses Djokovic, alerting him to the danger.
It took Djokovic more than seven minutes to secure his first service game of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier. That makes a man pay attention, even the finest tennis player in the world.
The second game was an epic, too, another six minutes. There really isn’t much between them, despite the conviction in the first two sets, 6-3, 6-3 to Djokovic.
Murray can play exceptional games, points, even sets and matches against Djokovic. he just cannot always sustain his opponent’s heights.
On occasions yesterday, there was a suspicion he feared it, too, the smallest absence of faith in his game. early on, he made huge mistakes on crucial points, as if the enormity of the battle was wearing him down. And then in a show of defiance that makes him such a formidable competitor, in the third set he turned it around. The first set had gone with serve seven games in, when Djokovic raced to a 30-0 lead against Murray’s. The next point would be pivotal. Murray misdirected a forehand, wildly, and Djokovic had three break points. he needed one.
The second set had a similarly dispiriting denouement, Murray already broken and in trouble on his serve with Djokovic holding two break points and leading 5-3. The Serbian flipped a return high. It was a standard smash, Djokovic in the centre of the court stranded, Murray waiting a cool age for the ball to come down. he went long. Gormlessly long. Lousy club player long. The locals gasped. It was no way to surrender a set.
In the poshest seats, gaps began to appear. They had seen this movie before, they thought. The sheer cussedness in proving them wrong is what makes Murray special.
He has been in brilliant form on clay this season, the form of his life but, Djokovic will still be favourite here. There were plenty of times when Murray matched his athleticism, his artistry, his wit. There just hasn’t been any time when he has led the match. even the seven minute first game went to Djokovic.
Plenty of aggravation, true: 30-0 down, deuce, advantage Djokovic, deuce, advantage Djokovic, but the world No 1 came through in the end. he has added a new weapon to his armoury on clay, a magnificent drop shot, so cleverly disguised he can play it as a traditional return from the back of the court.
Murray tried the same tactic with varying success. either Djokovic has the athletic edge in terms of the ground he can cover, or Murray’s short game lacks the same precision. Murray would come streaking towards the net like a man making a forlorn attempt to catch the last bus, yet when he tried the same move, somehow, Djokovic would get a foot on the platform. A crosscourt flick and it would be over.
To Djokovic’s credit, he was given the monstrous half of the draw, too. In order to reach Sunday’s final he was tasked with beating the king of the French Open, nine time winner rafael Nadal, plus Murray.
Djokovic’s response was to win five straight sets against both men, until Murray halted his march.
That is an immense achievement — but credit to Murray, too. In the sixth game of the third set, the Scot saved two break points and won the game with a display of furious determination.
Murray went from serving to stay in the match, to breaking Djokovic and winning the set. he played as well as at any time in his career. And how did Djokovic respond? he took Murray to two break points in the first game of the next set — which he saved, by the way.
It is maddening to be back in plucky Brit territory, giving credit just for competing with the best, having seen our man win Grand Slam titles and gold medals.
Yet, as the third set proved, nobody should stop hoping. Nobody should stop believing. In the 11th game, Murray got to a Djokovic drop shot, only to be treated to an equally fiendish lob. he then hit a winner that had the court in uproar. So did his next shot.
Murray having won the set 7-5, Djokovic immediately took the opportunity for a medical time-out. either he was injured or he needed to regroup. Murray made him regroup. It’s not a win, or anything like it — but it’s a start. Whatever happens today, the world No 1 will not rest easy. Give Murray his due for that, at least.