But there can be no arguing with it after Sunday’s China Open final in which Djokovic beat Nadal 6-2, 6-2 in 91 minutes to win his sixth Beijing title and further improve his unbeaten record here to 29-0.
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The pair have played each other 45 times with Nadal, who has struggled with his form and niggling injuries in the past year, hanging on to a 23-22 advantage. That’s very important for me, very important for my game.
The Italian had come back from two sets down to knock Nadal out of the U.S. Open last month, ending the former world number one’s run of winning a grand slam tournament in each of the last 10 years.
The Spaniard’s spiking nerve and Djokovic’s slashing depth denied it. The 14-time Grand Slam champion has discussed his flagging confidence this season; it’s sometimes most glaring in his forehand misses.
“I’m very happy the way that I played this week, especially because I was able to improve every single match,” Nadal said.
Nadal had break points in the sixth game but Djokovic held firm, and the Serb gained his second break in the seventh game when his Spanish opponent volleyed into the net with the court at his mercy.
Nadal and Fognini each dropped serve twice in the opening set before Nadal got the decisive break to capture the set with Fognini serving at 5-6. He was beaten by Djokovic 6-2 6-2 in what was seemingly an easy victory for the sport’s top player, but the win might have been tougher to come by then the numbers would indicate.
“I played a great match and great tournament overall”, Djokovic said afterward.
Fognini unleashed an angry tirade at Nadal during a changeover at this year’s Hamburg final, yelling “don’t break my balls” at the Spaniard and complaining about his slow play. He has also captured four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Rome.
In women’s play, Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky defeated Ana Ivanovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final.
“Even if Novak today is in another level I believe I was much closer than what the result says”. His return never really hurt Djokovic (credit Djokovic’s underrated serve as well on that one), nor did the Nadal serve.
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Djokovic is now three behind Nadal on the count of Masters titles and it will take a courageous man to bet against the Serbian catching up with his illustrious rival, early next year if not in 2015.
