In a match of high drama featuring a point penalty, a near tumble over the net, trick-shot mishaps, warnings for time wasting and angry outbursts, it was the sinew-stretching rallies that made the difference. PHOTO: REUTERS
Nadal withstood world number one Djokovic’s tendon-twisting baseline onslaught to extend his run at the claycourt major to a jaw-dropping 58-1 and reached an unprecedented eighth Paris final.
“This is very special for me,” said a hugely relieved Nadal in French in a courtside interview as sweat dripped off his face. “Novak is a fighter ... and he will win here one day. But I was ready for the fight.”
In the 35th meeting between the players, Djokovic had threatened to give Nadal a rough ride as he won four games on the trot to take the second set but the Serb was quickly given a reality check when he claimed only 12 points in a hopelessly one-sided third set.
Nadal then stood two points from the final in the fourth set when he inexplicably let Djokovic off the hook by dropping serve at 6-5 up, the Serb hitting an audacious forehand winner to break before saluting his camp with a raised fist.
The Spaniard’s winners suddenly dried up and his shoulders started sagging as Djokovic blew a hole through his master game-plan by blitzing through the fourth set tiebreak 7-3.
Djokovic thumped his chest with a clenched fist and then threatened to thump Nadal in the fifth as he streaked into a 4-2 lead.
But the Spaniard broke back and finally prevailed in the fifth set to pave way into his eighth French Open final.
No looking back for Sharapova
In the women’s draw, the past is irrelevant for Maria Sharapova as she prepares to face up to the steamroller that is Serena Williams in today’s French Open final.
She will be facing a player who is on a career best 30-match winning streak and currently playing some of the finest tennis the women’s game has seen in years.
The record books do not provide comfort reading for Sharapova. In 15 previous encounters with Williams, she has won just twice, both in 2004, in the Wimbledon final and at the season-ending WTA Championships when she was just 17.
Asked if she was able to bury those depressing statistics deep in the back of her mind, Sharapova replied: “Well, you certainly try to.
“I mean, if I was thinking about it, that wouldn’t be a great mindset to go into that match like that.
“But, despite that record and despite me being unsuccessful against her, I believe that I’m happy to be setting up chances to be going out and facing her.
“Going into a French Open final, that doesn’t matter. It all starts from zero. You’ve got to play until the last point, and believe in yourself.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2013.
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