TENNIS – Novak Djokovic edged past Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-3 after a tight battle in their 43rd head-to-head clash at the Master 1000 in Monte-Carlo setting up the final against Tomas Berdych who swept aside Gael Monfils 6-1 6-4 in the first semifinal. Diego Sampaolo
Novak Djokovic booked his spot for his fourth final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club and his 33rd overall Master 1000 Final with his 6-3 6-3 win over Rafa Nadal in front of Prince Albert II of Monaco. Djokovic is bidding to become the first player to win the first three Master 1000 of the year after clinching the Indian Wells-Miami double. It could be his fourth Master 1000 title in a row including his Paris Bercy triumph last November
The score does not reflect completely the quality of this match as there were many long and tight games especially in the crucial seventh games of both sets, The eight-time Monte-Carlo champion posed a strong challenge but Djokovic won the most decisive points.
Nadal got off to a good start in the first game of the opening set breaking serve to 30 with a backhand volley winner at the net before holding serve to take a 2-0 lead but from then on Djokovic reeled off six of his next seven games. Nadal brought up another break point in the third game but Djokovic fought it off before breaking back in the fourth game
The World Number 1 from Serbia fended off a crucial break point chance in a long seventh game which lasted 11 minutes. Nadal brought up a break point chance with a stunning forehand down the line but Djokovic saved it after a long rally with a winner following an exchange of lobs.
Djokovic earned two break point chances in the eighth game after Nadal missed a backhand. Nadal saved the first break point opportunity but he hit his forehand into the net on the second opportunity to drop his serve for 3-5.
At 5-3 Djokovic closed out the match to 30 and clinched the first set in 43 minutes.
Djokovic brought up two break point chances in the opening game of the second set but Nadal won four consecutive points to hold his serve. Nadal went up 40-0 at 3-3 but he dropped four consecutive points to hand Djokovic three break points. Nadal fended off the first two break points but Djokovic finally broke serve on the third opportunity to take a 4-3 lead when Nadal sent a forehand wide.
Nadal fended off the first match point at 3-5 30-40 but Djokovic brought up a second match point opportunity with a forehand return winner down the line before sealing the win with another break in the ninth game with a backhand winner after one hour and 38 minutes. Djokovic sealed his 20th win in his 43 head-to-head matches against his Spanish rival. It was the fifth time that Djokovic beat Nadal on clay.
Djokovic and Nadal met for the first time since Nadal won his last Grand Slam time last June at the Roland Garros.
Djokovic has extended his winning streak to 16 consecutive matches. He will play his third Monte-Carlo final. He will face Tomas Berdych in tomorrow’s final. He leads 18-2 in his 20 head-to-head matches. Djokovic won their last match in the semifinals in Dubai in two sets. However they are tied 1-1 on clay. Berdych won his last match on this surface in Rome 2013 with 2-6 7-5 6-4. Djokovic beat Berdych in the Monte-Carlo semifinal in 2012 with 4-6 6-3 6-2.
“Eve when I was a break down in the first set I kept a winning mentality. I stayed focused. I am in great shape. I don’t feel tired”, said Djokovic
Tomas Berdych beat French wild card Gael Monfils 6-1 6-4 in one hour and 7 minutes to reach his first final in Monte-Carlo and his fourth career Master 1000 final.
Berdych took control from the baseline and broke serve to 30 in the fourth game of the first set to take a 3-1 lead. The Czech star reeled off seven consecutive points en route to getting his double break and clinched the first set in just 24 minutes with 6-1. Monfils won just eleven points in the first set.
Berdych went up a break at the start of the second set but Monfils broke straight back in the second game of the second set to draw level to 1-1 when Berdych committed two forehand errors. Berdych broke serve in h won the next two games to open up a 3-1 lead. Monfils tried to keep the pace with Berdych breaking back in the fifth game for 2-3 before earning two break point chances but Berdych raised the game saving them to pull away to 4-2. Monfils clawed his way back into the match to 4-5 but Berdych clinched the win with a forehand down the line to qualify for his fourth Master 1000 final He won his only Master 1000 title in Paris Bercy in 2005.
Berdych has confirmed his excellent period of form this year in which he reached the semifinal at the Australian Open and plaed two finals in Doha and Rotterdam under the guidance of his new coach Dani Vallverdu, who worked in the staff of Andy Murray.
“The best thing is that I can see the results behind it, which is always very nice and always positive because it hasn’t been an easy decision to make that coaching change at the end of last year. I decided I still want to try to push myself higher and give myself another chance to try to compete with the best ones and move myself higher and better. I think we are going the right way”, said Berdych.
Berdych extended his winning streak to 6-1 in his seven head-to-head matches against Monfils, who won his only match against the Czech player in five sets at the 2013 Roland Garros.
“It’s always difficult when I am up against Tomas. I can’t find the proper way. Hopefully I will find a solution one day. Even when I served well, he was returning hard and deep”, said Monfils.
