TENNIS -Novak Djokovic beat 9-time French Open Rafa Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1 in two hours and 26 minutes on Nadal’s 29th birthday in the eagerly awaited quarterfinal at the Roland Garros putting an end to the Spaniard’s winning streak of 39 consecutive matches in Paris Diego Sampaolo
Djokovic is still in contention to become the 8th man to complete the Career Grand Slam. The Serbian player has scored his first win over Nadal at Grand Slam level since his triumph at the 2012 Australian Open. It was also the first time Djokovic has beaten Nadal in 7 meetings here in Paris.
Djokovic won eight of the first nine points to get an early break and then pulled away for 4-0. The crowd was in complete shock at Djokovic’s superior level of play and the sheer flatfootedness of Nadal at the beginning of the match. However, facing the possibility of 0-5, the Spanish legend converted on his 4th break point chance to claw his way back into the match for 5-5. It near appeared as though Djokovic had lost the momentum but he held serve comfortably for 6-5 and force Nadal to come up with spectacular plays to stay in the set. Nadal was able to save 5 set point but Djokovic remained determined and clinched the opening set on his 6th set point, 7-5 in 67 minutes. Djokovic had 19 winners alone in the set.
The second set went on serve until the 8th game when Djokovic broke serve for 5-3 before earning a fourth set point with a half-volley drop-shot which he converted for 6-3. It appeared as though all that energy that Nadal spent attempting the comeback in the first set proved critical as he was a touch slow. From the onset of the 3rd set, it was clear that Nadal was not up to the challenge that was Djokovic on the day. The Serbian again raced out to a 4-0 lead and this time, he remained steadfast in the task at hand. Down 1-5 and serving to stay in the match, Nadal double faulted on match point handing Djokovic the win 7-5 6-3 6-1 after 2 hours and 26 minutes.
Djokovic converted on four of his 11 break points and won 70 percent of his net points. This was his 27th consecutive victory this year. This win for Djokovic is historic as it was only the second defeat in 72 matches for Nadal in the Roland Garros. Before Djokovic the only other player able to beat Nadal in Paris was Robin Soderling in 2009. Nadal’s dominance stretched back to 2005 when he won the first of his 9 titles.
“It started already before the match. You go through more emotions than for any other match. Playing against Rafa at Roland Garros is a special thing. It’s a special mach. Tomorrow is a new day. I have to move on. It’s only the quarter finals and I want to fight for the title. Celebration can wait. I have to direct my thought to the semis”, said Djokovic.
Djokovic will face Andy Murray who became the first British player to reach three semifinals at the Roland Garros after beating David Ferrer in four sets with 7-6(4) 6-2 5-7 6-1 after three hours and 21 minutes. Murray clinched his 15th consecutive match on clay. He won his first two titles on this surface in Munich and Madrid. Djokovic leads 18-8 in their 26 encounters against Murray. It will be the fourth time they clash this year with Djokovic winning the three matches at Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami.
In the first set where both players got three breaks of serve Murray fended off two set points as he was serving to stay in the set at 5-6 before winning the tie-break on his fourth set point. In the second set Murray broke twice and fended off all the three break points he faced to win 6-2. Ferrer bounced back from an early break down before fending off a match point while serving to stay in the set at 4-5. Ferrer, finalist in Paris in 2013, got the break in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead before serving out for the third set for 7-5. Murray converted his third match point to cruise to 6-1 in the fourth set
“I was frustrated to lose the third set but I got off to a good start in the fourth set, so my frustration didn’t last long”, said Murray.
