Nadal defeats Djokovic for ninth Roland Garros title

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  • On cloud nine: Nadal has won his fifth successive French Open title.

    Every year people wonder why Rafael Nadal gets emotional over winning Roland Garros, even though he has now won it a record-extending ninth time.

    It’s because things are never smooth sailing for the Spaniard, who continues to fight past his injuries and insecurities and once again, he has risen above it all to triumph once again on Court Philippe Chatrier.

    Last year, he was returning from a seven-month knee injury layoff. This year, he was conquering his demons after suffering a back injury during the Australian Open final and losing four times in a row to his biggest rival.

    On Sunday, Nadal became the first man to capture five consecutive titles at Roland Garros as he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to keep his No1 ranking and rise to equal-second in the all-time list of Grand Slam winners.

    The Spaniard beat the world No2 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 to win a 14th major, joining Pete Sampras in second place in the all-time list – three slams short of Roger Federer’s haul.

    He also became the first man to win at least one grand slam per season for 10 consecutive years.

    “I think was an emotional victory (today) after what happened in Australia,” said Nadal.

    “I think I arrived with a lot of motivation to win Australia this year. I prepared myself well to be there healthy and to be there with the right level.

    “All the tournament I played great, and in the final… I didn't compete that match, so that was a little bit hard to accept for me. 

    “I had few months later that mentally I go down a little bit. I was keeping fighting, but I didn't feel myself enough strong.

    “I was winning more and more the last couple of weeks, and I arrived here playing well. That's why I won against the toughest opponent possible today.”

    With temperatures in the high 20s and a bright sunny sky, conditions were perfect for the final knockout between the world’s best two players.

    It was a tense start from both but Djokovic started to find his shots by the fifth game which he sealed comfortably with an ace.

    The Serb was mixing things up with the occasional drop shot – a successful tactic early in the match.

    Nadal had a solid first few games but was the one who cracked first, hitting two unforced errors to start game eight and he faced his first two break points when a Djokovic backhand clipped the net cord before landed on the line for a winner.

    Nadal saved both but Djokovic created another chance with a fierce forehand, and Nadal blinked to send an inside out forehand wide to hand the second seed the first break of the match.

    The Mallorcan went up 0-30 as Djokovic was serving for the opening set, responding to a drop shot with an equally smooth slice. And it helped him get two break points when Djokovic overcooked his forehand.

    Nadal squandered both with uncharacteristic miss-hits on his forehand and Djokovic got his first set point, attacking the Spaniard’s backhand.

    And for the first time in six meetings at Roland Garros, Djokovic took the opening set from Nadal.

    In the six previous Grand Slam finals the pair had met, the winner of the opening set had gone on to win on five of those occasions, and Nadal knew he had to dig really deep to turn things around.

    Nadal got his first break of the match in the sixth game of the second set, creating chances with some massive forehands to take a 4-2 lead.

    The Mallorcan double-faulted the following game though to give Djokovic two break points and he surrendered back the break on a long forehand error.

    As the set approached its final games, Nadal held brilliantly to love putting pressure on Djokovic, who had to serve so stay in the set.

    And it appeared the Serb was tense from the start, double-faulting on his first point. He hit an error to give Nadal his first two set points and the Spaniard converted on his first one with a ruthless forehand down the line winner, to level the match.

    Djokovic was trying to find ways to halt Nadal’s momentum but choosing to serve-and-volley proved an ill-advised strategy as the top seed broke in the second game then aced to hold and win his fifth game on the trot.

    Djokovic was clearly deflated, and was struggling both mentally and physically. But he still mustered a break point on Nadal’s serve in the fifth game and another in a marathon seventh game but Nadal stepped up the following game, getting a set point with a backhand passing shot and he took a two-set lead when Djokovic sent a forehand long.

    Two errors from Djokovic handed Nadal a crucial break for 4-2 in the fourth set, as the match crossed the three-hour mark.

    Djokovic hit a defensive lob in the following game which landed just inside the baseline and Nadal bizarrely netted the overhead to give his opponent two break points. And Djokovic broke on the second ball when a Nadal shot went wide, and raised his hands above as if he was thanking God.

    The Serb’s energy levels were surging and it was Nadal who was hitting more errors.

    “Physically I felt I was totally empty, drained, exhausted,” confessed Nadal. “Five sets, I don't know if I could have played a five‑set match. I was not feeling well at all physically speaking.”

    Still Nadal held serve which meant Djokovic had to serve to stay in the championship.

    And a long backhand gave Nadal his first championship point and the King of Clay sank to his knees as Djokovic double-faulted to give him another historic Roland Garros victory.

    “He's never won here. He deserves a win. He's so consistent as a player. He deserves to win (Roland Garros),” said Nadal of Djokovic.

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