AFP/Paris
Rafael Nadal clinched a record seventh French Open title yesterday, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb’s dream of Grand Slam history.
Rafael Nadal of Spain bites the trophy as he poses during the ceremony after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men’s singles final match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. (Reuters)
In a fractious final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday’s rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.
Victory, which was achieved on a Djokovic double fault, allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.
It was the 26-year-old’s 11th Grand Slam title, taking him one behind Roy Emerson, three off Pete Sampras and five away from the record of 16 held by Roger Federer.
For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once.
He was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.
“For me it’s a real honour, this tournament is the most special and for me to have this trophy is unforgettable - it’s probably one of the greatest moments in my career,” said Nadal, who needed just 49 minutes yesterday to complete victory.
Djokovic, who had won the pair’s epic Australian Open final this year, admitted that Nadal had been the better player.
“Rafa was better. He is a great player but I hope to come back next year and do better,” said the Serb, playing in his first Roland Garros final.
After Sunday’s suspension, the players, meeting in a fourth successive Grand Slam final, resumed with Nadal leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, but with Djokovic in the ascendancy and serving for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set.
But a forehand error from Djokovic, with the court at his mercy, gave Nadal a break point and the Spaniard seized it when the Serb had been left flat-footed by a net cord which allowed his opponent to push through a winner.
The set remained tight as would be expected with the pair meeting for a 33rd time.
Nadal moved to 5-4 as the umbrellas went up all around Philippe Chatrier Court and the players sat courtside to wait out a passing, heavy shower and complained to tournament referee Stefan Fransen about the slippery conditions.
Djokovic finally buckled when a monster forehand from Nadal set up championship point which he converted when the top seed tamely served up a fourth double fault.
The celebrations were ecstatic as Nadal fell to his knees and consoled Djokovic before the champion climbed into the player’s box to embrace his family.
On Sunday, Djokovic had looked down and out at one stage, even picking up a warning for destroying his courtside chair box with his racquet.
After slipping two sets down, he was also a break behind at 0-2 in the third before he reeled off eight games in succession to take the third set—the first lost by Nadal in this year’s event—and lead 2-0 in the fourth.
The first game of the fourth set had featured a gruelling 44-shot rally.
But Nadal had raged at tournament referee Stefan Fransen for having to keep playing as the court became increasingly treacherous.
As he stormed, Djokovic, who had been two sets to love down to Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, and saved four match points in his quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seized his chance to get back into the match.
The last time a French Open men’s final failed to be completed on the last Sunday was 1973 when it was played on the Tuesday with Ilie Nastase beating Niki Pilic.
Monday finishes have become common at the US Open in New York with the last four finals taking place on the extra day while the 2001 Wimbledon final was also completed on a Monday.
Djokovic looking forward to long rivalry with Nadal
World number one Novak Djokovic is looking forward to a new rivalry at the summit of men’s tennis after losing a hard-fought French Open final against Spanish claycourt king Rafael Nadal.
The 25-year-old Serb insisted the sport’s biggest matchup was still between 30-year-old Roger Federer, holder of a record 16 Grand Slam titles, and Nadal, who at 26, already has 11 majors topped by a record seven at the French Open.
But he clearly singled out Nadal as his main foe.
“We are very young, and we played over 30 times against each other, and hopefully we can have many more battles in the next years,” Djokovic said.
Five-time major winner Djokovic—who holds the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles— yesterday missed his chance of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all four Grand Slams at once.
A disastrous double fault cost him a chance to stretch the Roland Garros final to five sets against Nadal after an overnight rain delay—only the second time in history that the final had to be fought in the third week.
“I think the sport is experiencing some really good times now,” said Djokovic, who beat a struggling Federer in straight sets on Friday to set up the final with Nadal.
Happily married Federer believes he has a few more years of top-level competition left in him, including playing at the 2016 Olympics, even though he turns 31 in August and is busy looking after twin girls when not on court.