Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been on a permanent collision course over the past year and now will meet in their fourth straight major in the Roland Garros final on Sunday. The contest will show whether or not the Spaniard has pushed his game to a height where he can stave off the ever ambitious Serbian, who has taken him down in the last three Grand Slam finals.
However, Djokovic has never upended Nadal in Paris, falling to him in straight sets on three successive occasions from 2006-2008. While no.1 Djokovic is clearly a different player than he was back then, the Spaniard has won their last two meetings in the Monte Carlo and Rome finals. Prior to that, Djokovic had won seven straight matches against Nadal, including their recordsetting 5 hour, 53 minute contest in the 2012 Australian Open final. Prior to 2011, Nadal had beaten the Serbian down in all four Slam contests they had played and leads 18-14 overall.
History at stake
History is at stake for both men, as if Nadal wins he will pocket a record 7th Roland Garros title and if Djokovic wins he will become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four straight majors.
Really, given their recent history, this contest could be seen as a toss-up entering the final, as six-time champion Nadal has been on fire, only dropping 35 games in six matches, only dropping serve one game on serve, devastating two fine clay courters in Juan Monaco and David Ferrer, and mentally facing down another who was in the zone, Nicolas Almagro. Djokovic was shaky in his five-set win over Andrea Seppi, up and down yet courageous in his five-set victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and heady and very consistent in taking down Roger Federer in a three sets in the semis.
"I haven't won a set against him in this court, Djokovic said. "All the facts are on his side. But I feel different nowadays. I believe I'm at the peak of my career. I'm playing the best tennis of my life in last year and a half, and I should use that, as a confidence boost and try to get my hands on title. Why not?"
Tough task for Djokovic
Djokovic has a big task ahead as Nadal is at a higher level that he was in Australia and is also more comfortable on clay courts.
Therefore, he has to play with a great amount of patience and make sure he's striking balls very deep if he's going to the Spaniard's forehand side, because Nadal has been deadly once he starts controlling the court with his heavy forehand, both crosscourt and down the line.
Clearly, Djokovic has to try and batter Nadal’s weaker two-handed backhand; hit hard to Nadal's forehand early so he can open up to his backhand; serve more accurately and with more authority than he has in previous matches in Paris; try and take the Spaniard’s left-handed serve on the rise and push him back; and not shy away from the net when he gets Nadal into uncomfortable positions. He also has to get off to a fast start and not get into a track meet on clay. He can win those types of matches on hard courts and grass, but on dirt, Nadal who has the more secure footing
"It's slower conditions, which obviously suits him better," Djokovic said. "The ball bounces a bit higher for his topspin that he plays on this surface. It works at his advantage. I think the conditions on the center court here in Roland Garros maybe comparing to other clay court events that we have, like Monte‑Carlo or maybe Rome, I think they are a little bit faster. So that can maybe work in my favor."
Attack the best form of defence
Nadal cannot afford to come out too nervous and really believe that this is his time to wipe out the memory of Djokovic 2011 dominance over him. He has to play as aggressively as he did against Ferrer, because if he let's Djokovic in the match early and he begins by just trying to play steely defense, he risks handing over the keys to the match to the Serbian. He cannot afford to be predictable with his backhand and has to trust his backhand down the line -- and strike it deep. He has to attack every reasonable ball with his forehand, and go for aces and service winners with his first serve, because on clay his second serve is tough to attack anyway and he may as well try and snare some cheap points.
Nadal also needs to mix it up at times and try and go after Djokovic's second serve. He has been quite advantageous at closing out points at the net so he must not fear Djokovic's passing shots. Really, he has to show the Serbian that Court Philippe Chatrier is still Casa de Rafa.
"We cannot predict what's going on," Nadal said. The only thing that I have to predict that he is playing well, he is playing with confidence, and I have to play aggressive, I have to play my game. Try to keep playing the same way that I am playing Try to find solutions if the things are going wrong. You cannot be relaxed against the No. 1 player of the world. For sure, I will have my doubts. For sure I have to respect the other opponent. He beat me a lot of times. But I am here to fight every ball and to try my best in every moment."
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