Melbourne, Jan.10: World number one Novak Djokovic moved ahead for the first time in his long-running rivalry with Rafael Nadal after he defeated the latter to clinch the Qatar Open title.
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When these two met at Roland Garros in 2013, another classic ensued – one which had remarkably similar traits to the pair’s 2012 Australian Open clash.
Nadal took just 35 minutes to claim the opening set and, despite losing the opening game of the second set, broke to love midway through to claim a 6-4 6-3 win.
Despite initially being a break up, Nadal lost a see-saw second set as Kuznetsov’s powerful forehands brought him back into the match. In beating those four opponents, he has not dropped a set. It was the 47th meeting between the two, with both having split equal number of victories before last night’s final.
Djokovic has put his rival, and the rest of the world, in the rear-view mirror providing an astonishing view of the level he can produce.
Wawrinka also beat Djokovic in last year’s French Open final, so there is one player who at least has the talent and formula to get in the irresistible force’s way.
For an expert, Djokovic had his grip on the trophy from the start; it only got firmer as the match progressed. I played one of my best matches ever.
“It was great to play the final here”. Of course that’s easier said than done.
“I’m happy with the victory, being in the first final of the season in the first official tournament is something great”, Nadal said. “It appears time to time, but it’s nothing that really is major that I will be concerned about”.
Banging an ace to close an immaculate set of shot-making, Djokovic delivered 16 winners against just four unforced errors blitzing through the opener in 31 minutes. In doing so, the Swiss also became the first player in the Open Era to reach hard-court finals in 17 consecutive seasons. “Nobody is invincible. But I’m playing the tennis of my life, and I will try to, you know, nurture and cherish those moments on the court”. As I said in the ceremony, I will use this confidence level in every tournament that I play. I am motivated for it. And he went about his business in style. The Serb was forced to save break point after Nadal had produced a series of sumptuous forehands that were unsettling the Serb, but Djokovic, whose exertions in Qatar this week have been characterised by laborious starts, held firm to to take the first game.
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It was all Djokovic from the beginning till the end as he applied consistent pressure on Nadal’s first serve.
