Djokovic back on form but is no match for Nadal
Rafael
Nadal quelled a resurgent Novak Djokovic yesterday to reach the final of the Internazionali BNL d’italia in Rome for the first time since 2014.
But, while Nadal came out on top 7-6 (7/4) 6-3, Djokovic’s performance showed that he is close to finding his best form again after nearly two years of struggle, and there was no mistaking how much the Serbian wanted to win.
Djokovic, one of only two men ever to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, traded with his rival from the baseline and at times outplayed him, even if it was not quite enough in the end to topple him.
Djokovic took a 26-24 lead into their 51st meeting, but only second in two years, a sign of how dramatic the 30-year-old’s slump has been.
Nadal claimed an early break and surged into a 5-2 lead, but Djokovic fought back, winning three games in a row. But it was Nadal who lifted his level again in the tiebreak, clinching it with a return that just caught the line.
The second set followed a similar pattern, although this time Djokovic was unable to reclaim the early break, and Nadal celebrated exuberantly after clinching victory with an hour and 56 minutes on the clock.
The Spaniard moves through to a final where he will meet defending champion Alexander Zverev after he saw off Marin Cilic 7-6 7-5, where victory would see him reclaim the world No. 1 ranking, while Djokovic can head to Paris knowing he is a contender for the biggest titles once more.
Meanwhile, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah yesterday reached their third final of 2018, after defeating Scotland’s Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares 7-6 (4), 3-6, 10-8 in their Doubles semi.
Cabal and Farah will face Pablo Carreno Busta/joao Sousa or Pablo Cuevas/ Marcel Granollers in the final.
Murray and Soares made a dream start to the encounter, breaking to love to secure a 1-0 lead. But it was the Colombian duo who found success towards the latter end of the set.
Cabal and Farah saved two set points from 30-40 down at 3-5, with Farah hitting a crosscourt forehand winner and a strong body serve to force Murray to serve for the set.
That recovery proved to be crucial. In the following game, a forced Soares backhand error at deciding point levelled the scores at 5-5 before Cabal and Farah snatched the opening set in the tie-break.
Murray and Soares responded well in the second set, winning 83% of service points (20/24) to force a match tie-break.
The Acapulco champions secured the only break of the set in the fourth game, capitalising on a double fault from Farah to lead 3-1.
But Cabal and Farah regained the momentum in the decider, establishing an 8-4 lead, and despite Murray and Soares battling back to 8-8, Cabal and Farah clinched the win on their first match point after a double fault from Murray.