Ahead of their Qatar Open final, our Andy Schooler looks back at some of their best matches.
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Djokovic took a few rallies to warm up-the first game comprised 10 points-and Nadal grabbed the initiative against the Serb’s serve to bring up an immediate break point. Djokovic is, unfortunately for Nadal, still the man to beat.
Things would only get better for the World No. 1 after that, as Djokovic broke again to take a 5-1 lead with a service game of his own to wrap up the set.
Finally, Roger Federer is another name to keep an eye out for throughout the competition.
Djokovic, the number one seed, is the overwhelming favourite having won 21 of his previous 23 matches against the Czech and neither of those two losses were on a hard court as in Doha. This was a gruelling, attritional battle on the clay of the Caja Magica where Nadal delighted the home fans by digging deep to emerge victorious. He immediately opened a triple-break point lead in the next game. Of the 23 finals they have contested so far, Djokovic has a slight advantage winning 13.
“I just came out on the court with the right intention, with the right intensity and with a great deal of confidence, as well, that I carried from the last season playing against him in the last couple of matches”. I was a couple of points from the victory.
He also dedicated the falcon-shaped trophy to his grandfather, saying, “This trophy reminds me of someone who was very close to me, but who is no longer here”.
The victory tipped the head-to-head record between the two Grand Slam winners in the Serb’s favor.
Djokovic saved a break point with a forehand crosscourt, working through a six-minute opener to hold with an ace.
Djokovic was ruthless in his destruction of Nadal as he raced to a 6-1 6-2 victory in 73 minutes, giving the world number one his 60th Tour title and a 24th victory over his long-term rival.
“Last year he [Djokovic] had an incredible year, [reaching the] final of every tournament bar one throughout the year which is extremely hard to do”. They have faced each other in the final of all four grand slams. It would have been 40-0 had the left-hander not won a disputed line call.
Djokovic has certainly played his way into a discussion with those other legends, and his dominance at Australia makes him an overwhelming favorite when things begin on January 18.
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There were rallies in the very first game. The Spaniard, already a seven-time champion at Roland Garros, served for the match at 6-5 in the fourth but lost his serve and the resultant tie-break. Djokovic has an 8-1 record against Nadal since the 2013 US Open.
