US Open men’s final preview: Djokovic vs Nadal

13:07 04/12/2013
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • For the first time since 1996, both the men’s and women’s singles US Open finals feature the top two players in the world.

    A fitting culmination to what has been an exhilarating Grand Slam season – one that has given us everything from astounding injury comebacks, to history-making home triumphs, to sensational upsets and even the shocking yet inevitable decline of the greatest player of all time.

    Today’s final pits Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal for a head-to-head record 37th time. It’s their fourth clash of the season – second on hard courts – and a lot is riding on the result of this match.

    Like Nadal mentioned ahead of the Open, this tournament can be decisive in the battle for the year-end No1 ranking. While Djokovic will keep the top spot irrespective of today’s result, a win for Nadal can place him within a mere 120 points of the Serb in the rankings.

    This rivalry, which has now surpassed the previous record of 36 showdowns between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, may not feature the contrasting styles and personalities portrayed by the Swedish and American legends but it is captivating nonetheless.

    It is a rivalry of brute force and raw emotion. One that epitomises the modern game and one where mental toughness is the true art and not necessarily the shot-making. That’s not to say that Nadal and Djokovic do not produce some out-of-this-world rallies.

    Their French Open semi-final this year in Paris resembled a boxing match with shots exploding from either side of the net and the rallies were a sequence of unrelenting punches.

    The sound of the ball coming off their racquets was like nothing I’ve ever heard, particularly in an all-out attack first set, and the tension was so high I found myself holding my breath during their exchanges. Naturally the match went the distance, even if it was on Nadal’s natural habitat – clay.

    Today’s final should be no different. We’re in for another epic marathon. Nadal has seemed sharper than Djokovic heading into the US Open final, getting broken only once in six matches (by Richard Gasquet in the semis) and dropping only one tiebreak set.

    His serve has been stellar, and even though it’s not as powerful as it was during his run to the title in 2010, it’s been just as effective. The Spaniard’s sublime footwork has also helped him navigate some windy conditions better than anyone else, and his focus has been off the charts.

    Meanwhile, Djokovic has dropped three sets en route to the final and had a slow start against Stanislas Wawrinka but that did not translate into more time on the court than Nadal. The world No1 has spent 12 hours and 55 minutes on court so far this fortnight – four minutes less than Nadal took to reach the title match.

    Djokovic has a great record to fall back on in New York, where he’s made five finals in the past seven years (won in 2011). Nadal’s win over the Serb last month on the hard courts of Montreal was a very tight one but it still can provide much confidence for the Mallorcan, who is 6-11 against Djokovic on hard courts.

    The world No2 targeted Djokovic’s forehand in that match which proved a successful strategy. He will probably employ the same strategy today as he tries to control the baseline rallies.

    Verdict: Nadal is undefeated on hard courts this season and has been playing with so much hunger since he got back from his injury, which might give him the edge today. Djokovic has had some good wins this week but has struggled in his last two matches. A slow start from the Serb will not go unpunished by Nadal. We say Nadal wins in five.

    * For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.

    Recommended