French Open Highlights: Novak Djokovic Conquers King of Clay Rafael Nadal, Storms into Semis
World number one Novak Djokovic knocked out Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals with a crushing victory. The Serb beat the Spaniard 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to hand him his second defeat in 71 games. Catch all the highlights of the match.
(All Times in IST)
21:45: GAME, SET, MATCH - NOVAK DJOKOVIC beats RAFAEL NADAL: 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 - The last set turned ugly for Nadal, the last game uglier. He goes out of the French Open on the back of a double-fault. This is his just second defeat in 71 matches at the French Open. Novak Djokovic has beaten Nadal for the first time in seven meetings. It took six years for someone to knock Nadal off his perch at Paris and how well was it done. Djokovic was superb, attacking Nadal from the start. A sad end for the nine-time champion but the world number one Djokovic is surely on his way to win his first title in Paris.
21:39: 5-1 - It's all over for Nadal, surely. Djokovic is too strong and Nadal has no answer to the Serb, who hold the game at love. Novak Djokovic is one game away from doing what only Soderling could manage - beat Nadal on Parisian clay!
21:35: 4-1 - Game Nadal. Nadal won't be bageled. The Spaniard is digging deeper than ever. Comes back from 15-40 and salvages some pride. He's isn't at his best but giving up has never been in his constitution.
21:32: 4-0 - another net cord point for Djokovic. Nadal looks defeated now. Djokovic races to 30-0, misses two easy returns and then delivers an ACE. The number nine etched on Nadal's shoes might just stay at the number because the match is tilted heavily toward the big Serb.
21:26: Break again! 3-0 down Nadal and now he looks broken. Just can't get anything right - double faults, rooted to the baseline as Djokovic ran to 0-40 lead until a drop shot and a missed forehand from the Serb gave him some hope. Saves two break point, shouts "Vamos" but when the ball just clips over the net cord and costs you the game, you know it's not your day.
21:22: 2-0 - It was too easy till 40-0 with Djokovic hooking Nadal at the baseline. A momentary slip in concentration and a couple of bad returns lets Nadal in for a while but Djokovic shuts the window down by pushing Nadal wide with a low forehand and then taking advantage of the open court.
21:15: BREAK! - Djokovic in the groove and he's making Nadal work very hard. Misses a couple of backhands but Nadal finds the net twice. At 40-15, Djokovic tries the drop shot but Nadal was upto it and plays it past him. That paves the way for the Spaniard and some bad finishing from the Serb takes it to 40-40. But then, BOOM - out came the forehand that sent Nadal the wrong way and then, Nadal hands him the break by missing a simple volley.
THIRD SET
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21:07: SECOND SET TO DJOKOVIC 6-3 - Nadal must be livid for missing the easy forehand on Djokovic's second serve. But he fights back well to a deuce with a low forehand that forces Djokovic to net his pick-up shot. Nadal flounders another forehand to hand Djokovic the advantage but the Serb gets his backhand down-the-line completely wrong. Then a bit of brilliance - deep serve and a deft cross court to leave Nadal chasing. Finally a low hard forehand to win the second set.
21:03: BREAK! Finally the break arrives - Nadal getting much better with the second serve but Djokovic is growing into the game. His forehands are making Nadal run and forcing a few unforced errors. Big game coming up, could decide the match. Nadal needs to hook it here else Djokovic will run away.
20:58 Supreme play from both players - Djokovic places his drop shot perfectly but Nadal steams in to return, Djokovic lobs but Nadal pounces on it with an overhead backhand smash! Nadal can't afford to lose this set but Djokovic has been relentless with his forehands forcing Nadal wide.
20:55: 4-3 Djokovic responds and responds sharply. Two fierce volleys letting Nadal know who's in charge. The game is gaining momentum again and Djokovic is gaining the upper hand.
20:52: 3-3 - Finally some action as both players lift their games up. Nadal coming up to the net and pinning Djokovic at the baseline. The heat is taking a toll on Djokovic. Nadal snatched the initiative and increased the tempo of the game. He creams a forehand into the open court and another well judged volley helps him hold.
20:46: 3-2 - the players are holding their serves and the game has gone into a lull. Not much intensity and Djokovic seems to be losing his footing a lot.
20:42: 2-2 - much even game this set. Nadal hold to love. Djokovic isn't very happy with the surface, looks frustrated and is losing a bit of concentration and steam. The intensity has gone down a bit and both players seems to be playing withing themselves.
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20:37: 2-1 - Spoke too soon! Djokovic barges in to the game and holds it to a 15. Pouncing on the Nadal's short returns and then hitting a forehand barrel straight. Nadal tries to pull back but tamely nets a backhand.
20:33: 1-1 - Easy game for Nadal after a floundering one into the crowd. Not at his best but scrapping away and Djokovic looks a bit knackered by the heat or is he? A superb return to Nadal's drop shot but Nadal wrong foots him with a thundering cross-court forehand.
20:30: 1-0 - Djokovic hold first game to a 30 by unleashing and ace. Floundered an easy forehand but then compensated with a striking cross court backhand.
SECOND SET
20:23: FIRST SET TO DJOKOVIC 7-5 - Finally he wraps it up. Just when we thought Nadal was out of steam, he barged into the game with some ferocious forehands. He attacked Djokovic and pinned him at the baseline with some cracking play at the net but Djokovic stuck it out and unleashed himself with a thundering smash and then took the game and the set with a slice that stretched Nadal and forced him to put it wide.
20:14: 6-5 - that was a much easier game. The last game seems to have taken some sting out of Nadal as Djokovic coasted through the game.
20:08: The game just goes on an on. Just when you thought Djokovic has got it covered, Nadal roars back. Deuce after deuce after deuce - both men refuse to give in. Djokovic still hold the edge but Nadal is fighting like a warrior. Forehand met with forehand, backhands replied with drop shots. Finally a scorching serve from the Spanish maestro takes the game to 5-5. This has the makings of an epic.
19:58: That game flew as Djokovic wins an easy love hold. Djokovic shows why he is the best in the world and Nadal now needs to serve to stay in the set.
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19:55: 4-4 - Would you believe it? That's Rafa Nadal at the French Open. Djokovic looks rattled and a bit frustrated as Nadal powers back into the first set.
Who's everyone picking in the big match at roland garros tomorrow? Murray vs Ferrer..Just kidding?? fully aware we are playing second fiddle
- Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 2, 2015
19:50: What a splendid game that was! Djokovic saved two break points yet Nadal breaks him. Nadal trying his best to stay away from Djokovic's backhand, which itself went awry twice in the game. Djokovic making some errors, not getting his first serve right, not getting on top of the bounce and Nadal's forehand is growing into the game as he fights back to 4-3.
19:40: Rafael Nadal holds - the first serve is deep and the forehand has found its whiplash back. Djokovic seems to have lost a bit of concentration as Nadal mounts a fight back.
19:35: BREAK! Nadal finally gets into the game. The forehand gets into the groove and the stunning back-hand forced Djokovic to play the last point long. Thumbs up from Djoker but the clench of fist from Nadal signals - GAME ON!
19:30: DOUBLE BREAK - Phew! That rally. Brilliance from both men but Djokovic's drop shots are doing the trick for him. He's all over Nadal and he's making Nadal run, a lot. 4-0 lead.
19:28: Terrific rally - Nadal tried to hang on in front of Djokovic's powerful double-handed backhand from the baseline. A drop shot from Djokovic draws him to the nets and the Serb kills the point with a thundering forehand.
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19:25: Finally, a rally. Djokovic pinning Nadal on his backhand. Nadal finally, goes round it but his forehand is long. 3-0 now, Djokovic looks in a hurry and Nadal looks completely out of sorts - his forehand all over the place and the Serb taking full advantage of it.
19:22: BREAK! Djokovic looks in ominous touch, attacking Nadal from the word go. Nadal's forehand not coming off at all. Djokovic has no such problems, drills a booming forehand to break the Spanish master.
19:18: Djokovic looks in his elements, making Nadal run - serving deep and using the court. ACE - wins the first game.
19:15: Here we go FIRST SET - Djokovic to serve. Nadal holds a 6-0 record over Djokovic in the French Open. On the backhand and wins the first point. 15-0.
19:10: With a 70-1 record to his name Nadal will look to wield his prowess on his favourite surface but Djokovic has won his last 26 matches and is unbeaten on clay in 2015. He has not lost a match at the Grand Slam or Masters level since Shanghai in October. Then, again this is the Roland Garros - Nadal's den!
19:05: Djokovic and Nadal emerge onto the court. Get ready for an encore. This is the final before the finals - the blockbuster game everyone has been waiting for. With Roger Federer bowing out of the tournament, the winner of this game could well emerge as the King of Clay this year.
19:00: Serena Williams have propelled her way to the semis after beating Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3 while, India's Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis crashed out of the tournament.
18:55: "Now we can talk," said Nadal after his 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Jack Sock, " "It's probably the toughest quarterfinal in my career here at Roland Garros, without a doubt."
"It does feel different, because it's quarterfinals," said the Serbian, "I'm not used to playing him that early." Not many quarter-finals in the open era have been of this magnitude. The one that springs to mind is the clash between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, at the 2001 United States Open.
18:50: Novak Djokovic versus Rafael Nadal - an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object at the Philippe-Chatrier court at the French Open. Rafael Nadal, the nine-time French Open champion, takes on Novak Djokovic, the world's indisputable No. 1 player, in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
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Rafael Nadal turns 29 today but Novak Djokovic will surely not present him with an easy match. Not that the Spaniard would be expecting one. Such is the class of the two tennis heroes that special occasions only come as a follow-up to tennis triumphs, nothing more or less. Catch the live and latest updates as the two giants renew their rivalry and face-off in the French Open quarters. (Djokovic v Nadal at French Open)
For over 10 days now, all roads at Roland Garros had been leading to this last-eight collision and it became a reality as Spanish sixth seed Nadal tamed American tyro Jack Sock 6-3 6-1 5-7 6-2 shortly before Djokovic overwhelmed Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. (Djokovic and Birthday Boy Nadal Push Serena Into Shade)
One is the World No. 1 while the other is the king of clay -- desperate to prove supremacy over his territory despite winning it last year. Indeed, Djokovic and Nadal are arguably the biggest players in the men's draw.
Djokovic has shown that he is a versatile athlete - one who plays hard and plays to win. Nadal, on the other hand, came into his favourite Grand Slam seeded a shocking sixth but with the reputation of staging a comeback when least expected.
The two present different resumes this year but one look at their past battles at the Roland Garros - even if all were won by Nadal -- reveals why both are tireless heroes in the international tennis arena.
Djokovic vs Nadal at the Roland Garros
2014: Nadal bt Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in the final
2013: Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 in the semi-final
2012: Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the final
2008: Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) in the semi-final
2007: Nadal bt Djokovic 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-final
2006: Nadal bt Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 - retired in the quarter-final
Yes, Nadal has overwhelmed Djokovic at the French Open in every single duel but the Serbian has extracted revenge in other Grand Slams - trailing by just three wins in face-offs. Die-hard fans of Djokovic believe in his grit and consistency while critics of Nadal claim the Spaniard is only a mere shadow of his former self.
Tennis though is not won based on prayers. Neither is it won based on recent form. Glory awaits he who battles the hardest on the given day and both Djokovic and Nadal can be equally stubborn in their determination to battle for glory.