1 Response to rg21djokovic_nadal

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 19, 2023 at 4:05 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-40, 32-25, 51-45, 28-14 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   14 % Djokovic – 19 of 133
   14 % Nadal – 19 of 133

   “Definitely the best match that I was part of ever in Roland Garros for me,” said Djokovic, who 37% of his points obtained after winners. “And top three matches that I ever played in my entire career, considering quality of tennis, playing my biggest rival on the court where he has had so much success and has been the dominant force in the last 15-plus years, and the atmosphere which was completely electric. For both players, a lot of support. Just amazing.” (the stadium not fully packed, Covid restrictions)
   Djokovic [1] began it trailing *0:5 (0/15) but he was playing quite well from the start. He didn’t want to repeat the French Open final they played a year before and was fighting until the end of the set (saved set points in three consecutive games, but ultimately lost after 7 set points for Nadal). In the 3rd set, the Serb led *5:4 (30/0) when made a forehand error from a winnable position, a few minutes later he faced a set point at 5:6 – saved it with a backhand dropshot. In the 7/4 tie-break, decided a point giving Djokovic a 5:3 lead when Nadal sent his FH volley long. Nadal [3] raced to a 2:0* lead in the 4th set, and then happened something nobody would expect – he lost six straight games on his beloved court – it had never happened to him before there. # Nadal took a toilet break at one set apiece (lights were activated then), Djokovic did the same as he led 2-1 in sets – it’s additional 10 minutes or so, which allowed to break the four-hour mark.

   Serve & volley: Djokovic 1/2, Nadal 0

   # Comparison of their three 4-hour plus four-setters:
   US Open ’11 (Final): Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1… 4 hours 10 minutes… Total points: 146-122… Breaks: 11-6
   French Open ’21 (SF): Djokovic d. Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2… 4 hours 11 minutes… Total points: 142-124… Breaks: 8-6
   French Open ’22 (QF): Nadal d. Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6… 4 hours 12 minutes… Total points: 148-130… Breaks: 7-4

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