Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic served up a contest worthy of champions on Sunday, only for the rain that had been swirling around them all afternoon to have the last word. The 2012 Roland Garros final is finely poised overnight, with Nadal leading two sets to one but Djokovic a break to the good in the fourth at 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2. We will have to wait until Monday to find out which of the top two players in the world will make history. Either Nadal will prevail and win the French Open a record seventh time, or Djokovic will complete his comeback and become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time.
To witness the world’s greatest players, at the peak of their powers giving it their all in the pursuit of history, felt like a privilege. When a clay-court legend meets the world no.1 on his favourite surface, how could the match turn out otherwise? Rarely in the history of the sport have two such perfectly matched players met in a Grand Slam final.
See-saw first set
Full of confidence from his awesome run through the tournament during which he did not drop a set, Nadal took the match by the scruff of the neck, breaking Djokovic twice to race into a 3-0 lead. This was Rafa at his fearsome best, right out of the blocks. He moved the Serb around, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye, firing winners and forcing errors.
Full of confidence from his awesome run through the tournament during which he did not drop a set, Nadal took the match by the scruff of the neck, breaking Djokovic twice to race into a 3-0 lead. This was Rafa at his fearsome best, right out of the blocks. He moved the Serb around, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye, firing winners and forcing errors.
Novak finally began to find his range in the fourth game, and when that happens, it is breathtaking to behold. His timing is a delight, the sound of the ball as it leaves his racquet a satisfying “thok”. The speed and flat trajectory it takes as it fizzes over the net is what has given the Serb the edge over other players the past 18 months on every other surface. But this is clay, and aware that he needed to take the game to the Spaniard he did just that, and was rewarded by two breaks of his own. Suddenly we were level at 3-3 and Nadal would have been forgiven for being stunned. He had only been broken once all tournament long, and that was in the first round!
And so we came to the crucial seventh game, and it was Djokovic who cracked, double-faulting on break point to hand Rafa a lead that he would not relinquish, wrapping up the first set 6-4 in 58 minutes. Nadal’s reaction spoke volumes, a trademark fist clench accompanied by a howl of delight.
More of the same in the second
Some of the points in this match were simply out of this world, none more so that the one that kicked off the second set in the most glorious of fashions. At 15-15, a net cord from Rafa dropped over on Novak’s side. In rushed the Serb to drop it back at an angle. In flew Nadal to get it back, incredibly, but leaving an open court to Djokovic. Rather than kill it, and with the reflex of a man who may have too much experience playing exhibition matches, Nole sent Rafa scurrying back once again. The Spaniard finally lobbed the ball just out, much to the Serb’s amused relief.
Some of the points in this match were simply out of this world, none more so that the one that kicked off the second set in the most glorious of fashions. At 15-15, a net cord from Rafa dropped over on Novak’s side. In rushed the Serb to drop it back at an angle. In flew Nadal to get it back, incredibly, but leaving an open court to Djokovic. Rather than kill it, and with the reflex of a man who may have too much experience playing exhibition matches, Nole sent Rafa scurrying back once again. The Spaniard finally lobbed the ball just out, much to the Serb’s amused relief.
But Rafa would have the last laugh in the game, Djokovic double-faulting again at a crucial time, deuce, to hand Nadal another break point that he won, before holding for a 2-0 lead, saving a break point in the process. 'Nole’ was in trouble now, but scrambled back into the set via a gutsy hold and brilliant break in Rafa’s next service game, complete with a superb pass and an incredible lob. When he then held to 30 and a 3-2 lead it was Djokovic’s turn to celebrate, almost as though he had won the set.
The next game contained the best example of the excellent sportsmanship in which the match was held. Rafa fired a winner on a ball that was given out only for the call to be overruled by chair umpire Damien Dumusois, who instructed the players to replay the point. Novak graciously pointed out that he would not have got to Rafa’s winner, and the Majorcan went on to hold for 3-3.
Once again the seventh game proved pivotal, and once again Nadal won it to break, this time via a magnificent inside-out forehand that found the line. Disgusted with himself, Djokovic smashed his racquet on the stand next to his chair, and a code violation added salt to his wound. Rafa then held for a 5-3 lead before the spotty drizzle that had been a constant throughout the match turned into rain, and play was suspended. Some 39 minutes later the players returned. Nadal was in the mood to finish things quickly, and a quick break brought him the second set, 6-3 in 56 minutes.
Novak turns it around
Djokovic was beginning to cut a dejected figure, even more so when Rafa raced into a 2-0 lead in the third set. Was there any way back for the top seed? Was his dream of holding all four Slams evaporating? Not a bit of it. In a repeat of the first two sets, Novak refused to lie down, breaking back via more aggressive shot-selection to trail 2-1. A brave hold followed as both men raised their game. We were in the heart of the battle now, and out of nowhere Djokovic was playing his best tennis of the tournament, by some distance.
Djokovic was beginning to cut a dejected figure, even more so when Rafa raced into a 2-0 lead in the third set. Was there any way back for the top seed? Was his dream of holding all four Slams evaporating? Not a bit of it. In a repeat of the first two sets, Novak refused to lie down, breaking back via more aggressive shot-selection to trail 2-1. A brave hold followed as both men raised their game. We were in the heart of the battle now, and out of nowhere Djokovic was playing his best tennis of the tournament, by some distance.
Gunning his shots all over the court and using incredible angles, he broke Nadal again, with even Rafa unable to cover the ground and retrieve his cannonballs. The scenario of the second set was repeating itself, only ‘Nole’ was a break up now and crucially had found his service, his first ace of the match helping him to a 4-2 lead. Nadal was having to dig deep to stay in touch but folded again and was broken under the weight of Djokovic’s hitting. Incredibly, the Serb had turned it around, and when he held, easily to love, he had taken six straight games to win the set 6-2. What a turnaround!
Fourth set curtailed with Djokovic ahead
Could this match get any better? You’d better believe it. Nadal knew he had to stop the Djokovic juggernaut, and the first game of the fourth set was packed with astonishing rallies as both men smashed ground strokes back and forth and chased down lost causes. A brilliant rally of 44 strokes was just one highlight, and it was Djokovic who had the last word, hitting a pass he had no right to get, to break and lead 1-0. The world no.1 had the bit between his teeth now, and held to love for his eighth straight game and a 2-0 lead.
Could this match get any better? You’d better believe it. Nadal knew he had to stop the Djokovic juggernaut, and the first game of the fourth set was packed with astonishing rallies as both men smashed ground strokes back and forth and chased down lost causes. A brilliant rally of 44 strokes was just one highlight, and it was Djokovic who had the last word, hitting a pass he had no right to get, to break and lead 1-0. The world no.1 had the bit between his teeth now, and held to love for his eighth straight game and a 2-0 lead.
Rafa stopped the rot, finding his first service and holding for 2-1 before the rain came down again with two hours and 59 minutes on the match clock, bringing the thrills to a temporary halt. Fans and players alike waited for the rain to stop, in vain, but will return tomorrow excited at the prospect of Act 2 of a French Open final for the ages.
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