2016 will also mark exactly 10 years since the pair first met – at the quarter-finals of the French Open at Roland Garros in 2006, where reigning champion Nadal had been the second seed – and Djokovic unseeded.
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A soft drop volley and twisting serve gave Nadal his second game, but Djokovic went right back to work. In 2011, I won three out of four Grand Slams, as well.
The win not only secured the 60th career title for the Serb but also means he is leading for the first time in his head-to-head battle with Nadal, winning 24 of the 47 matches they have now played against each other.
Nadal, meanwhile, won only 48% of points on his own first serve and made nine winning returns compared to 30 from Djokovic.
“I will remember this trophy win for one particular reason”. How can I go against Djokovic? “I’m sure next time I’m gonna win against Novak with him”. So he’s been trying to, of course, change something, improve, and it’s no surprise to me.
Djokovic’s task was a little tougher in the last four.
“I’m going to fight and I feel ready to fight, and I feel ready and excited about this fight and I hope to be closer”. Having finished at 1.47am local time, it was fitting that during the presentation ceremony chairs were brought onto court for both players to enjoy a well-deserved sit down. “I know we will face each other many more times”, he said.
“I played pretty much flawless tennis today”.
“It is always easier said than done”. As I said in the ceremony, I will use this confidence level in every tournament that I play. I finished 2015 strongly and I have started the new season well. “Many thanks to all the fans”.
Djokovic found another break in the next game, all but ending the final in the process. It has to be an encouraging sign for Nadal that he hasn’t suffered a loss against a player who is of a lesser caliber than he.
The Serbian broke in the second and sixth games and closed the set out to love.
He faced-and saved-only one break point while serving at 70 percent and finishing with six aces and no double-faults. Djokovic is, unfortunately for Nadal, still the man to beat.
Djokovic again held serve, unleashing another round of deft placements from the baseline to take a 5-1 lead.
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The Djokovic-Nadal rivalry, one of the most prolific in tennis’ Open Era, is the only one to have involved the finals of all four Grand Slams.
