“So for me it’s so important to win these kind of matches”, he said.
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“I was one match away a year ago”.
The other quarter-final went the way of seventh seed Jeremy Chardy, who beat Illya Marchenko 6-3 7-6 (7/3) to secure a last-four meeting with Nadal. In truth, with tennis like he produced in this match, it is hard to see how he can fail to win a sixth.
Djokovic booked his place in the final by defeating third seed Tomas Berdych in straights.
“[Mayer] started better in both the first and second sets”, Djokovic said, reports the ATP’s official website.
A soft drop volley and twisting serve gave Nadal his second game, but Djokovic went right back to work.
Djokovic was relentless in the tiebreak, breaking Berdych’s first serve and ended up prevailing in the decider 7-3. Even before that match, Djokovic had won four straight.
Afterwards he said he had a slight concern over an arm injury which has required attention from a physiotherapist, but added that he did not think “it is a major concern”.
“It was great to play the final here”. I don’t know anyone playing tennis like this ever.
“The real thing is I had a positive week”, said Nadal.
Djokovic saved a break point with a forehand crosscourt, working through a six-minute opener to hold with an ace.
At 24-23, Djokovic holds a career edge against the Spaniard for the first time. Since I know this sport I have never seen somebody playing at this (high) level.
He may be consoled by one of the biggest pay days of his career, $57,380 (52,715 euros).
‘Of course, he is the favourite for the Australian Open.
The more focused man broke in the 16th game of the set to end yet another classic between the duo.
Federer’s serve was bulletproof during the clutch moments, however, and the world No. 3 closed out the contest with a booming ace on his second match point. He has now claimed 11 consecutive sets against Nadal since the Spaniard prevailed in the 2014 Roland Garros final.
But last year also saw him become a father for the first time and the 28 year old admitted the addition to his family has caused a few sleepless nights during tennis’ short offseason.
“It’s still very early for me to talk about the Grand Slam in a year”.
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It was the dream final, and all the more highly anticipated for coming in the first full week of the new season: Indeed this would be the first ATP title handed out in 2016..
