Novak Djoković

[Damian]

[Damian]

Djokovic Completes Comeback At Roland Garros

Spoiler:

Serbian to play Berrettini on Wednesday
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic completed a fifth career comeback from two-sets-to-love down on Monday for a place in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.

The 2016 champion, faced with the prospect of his earliest exit at the Paris major since 2009 (l. to Kohlschreiber in the fourth round), didn’t panic against Lorenzo Musetti in a 6-7(7), 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0 victory, which ended after three hours and 27 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier when the #NextGenATP Italian retired. Djokovic is through to the last eight for a record 12th consecutive year.

The Serbian superstar came through his first major test at this year’s Roland Garros, winning 13 games in a row from a 3-1 advantage in the third set to a 4-0 lead in the decider. Musetti, who had won 85 points through the first two sets (44, 41), earned just 17 for the remainder of the match as his hopes ended of becoming the eighth man in the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals on his Grand Slam championship debut.

Djokovic, who has a 24-3 record on the season, which includes a ninth Australian Open crown (d. Medvedev) and also the 83rd title of his career at the Serbia Open (d. Molcan), will next challenge ninth-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday. Djokovic, the 18-time Grand Slam champion, beat Berrettini 6-2, 6-1 in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/lore ... w'>Lorenzo Musetti</a>

Musetti, who began slow-balling to Djokovic's forehand, struck 25 winners through two sets and looked so composed in the biggest match of his career. With his single-handed backhand holding up in baseline rallies, the World No. 76 won the first four points of the second-set tie-break, which included a mental error from Djokovic when the Serbian let a ball go at 0/2. Djokovic regrouped and won 28 of 30 points from 3-1 in the third set to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set.

Read Features
No Video Games, Plenty Of Old-School Rock For Musetti
The Machine & The Artist: #NextGenATP Stars Sinner & Musetti Shining

Musetti, who is now 16-9 on the season, has reached two ATP Tour semi-finals this year at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC and at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon (l. to Tsitsipas both times). Djokovic has lost one Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as Musetti. The Serbian fell to No. 117-ranked Denis Istomin in the 2017 Australian Open second round.

MOST FIVE-SET MATCHES WON AT GRAND SLAMS (ALL-TIME)

Player Win-Loss Record
1) Novak Djokovic 31-9
2) Roger Federer 30-17
3) Pete Sampras 29-9
4) Marin Cilic 27-12
5) Lleyton Hewitt 26-19
Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

Djokovic gained the first break with a crosscourt backhand winner, but let Musetti back into the match in the fifth game. Musetti saved one break point by wrong-footing Djokovic at 3-4, 30/40 and from 1/4 down in the tie-break, the Italian won four of the next five points. Djokovic saved two set point at 5/6 and 6/7, but Musetti came up with a big forehand winner at the third time of asking.

If Djokovic thought Musetti would let up, he soon found out that the answer was no! Musetti continued to feed no pace to the Serbian star’s forehand and took a 3-1 lead in the second set after Djokovic hit a forehand wide. Djokovic tightened up his game to win two straight games, but flashy shot-maker Musetti came within a point of a 5-3 advantage only to strike a looping forehand long. Through to the tie-break, Musetti highlighted his potential with a number of groundstroke winners. The Italian teenager is now 10-0 this year in tie-breaks.

The momentum of the match started to shift in Djokovic's favour after both players left the main stadium court at the end of the second set. Upon the resumption of play Djokovic won the first six points. Hitting through his forehand better, the feel of the match changed once the World No. 1 took a 3-0 lead. He won 12 of the final 14 points to clinch the third set in 23 minutes, and with errors creeping into Musetti's game, Djokovic immediately took control of the fourth set.

Having won 44 points in the first set and 41 points in the second set, Musetti won a total of 14 points in the next two sets and appeared to struggle for mobility in the decider. Things were going Djokovic's way to such an extent that he won the first point of the fifth set after falling to the court and hitting a winner.

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[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

Down Two Sets, Djokovic Says: 'I Was More Nervous At The Start'

Spoiler:

Serbian remained unfazed by two sets deficit
Novak Djokovic may have played more than 1,100 tour-level matches during his illustrious career, but the World No. 1 admitted to being nervous when he faced 19-year-old #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti on Monday at Roland Garros.

Down two-sets-to-love, the Serbian superstar didn’t panic and he used that tension and his vast experience to work his way into a record 12th consecutive quarter-final with a 6-7(7), 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0 victory, which ended when Musetti retired due to cramps and lower back pain.

“I actually felt, I would say, more nervous when I was starting the match than when I was two sets down,” said Djokovic. “To be honest, I even liked the fact that I lost first couple of sets, because I just played under [a] certain kind of tension and wasn't able to go through my shots… But credit to him for playing well in [the] important moments.”

You May Also Like: Djokovic Completes Comeback At Roland Garros
The momentum in the pair’s first ATP Head2Head meeting started to shift once both players left Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of the second set. Musetti won just 17 more points.

“After I lost the second set and went out to change and came back on the court, I just felt different,” said Djokovic, who is now 24-3 on the season. “I was a different player. I had [a] better feeling in my shots. I just had more confidence going through the ball. I decreased the amount of errors [and] I started playing the way I was supposed to play at the beginning.

“Then towards the end of the third, beginning of the fourth, I saw that he was struggling physically [and] obviously that gave me even more motivation to try to apply more pressure on him and kind of finish him off.”

Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

Djokovic believes that his Monte-Carlo training partner has all that it takes to rise into the upper echelons of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

“Musetti definitely has all the qualities in his tennis, in his game on clay particularly, but also [on] other surfaces to be a top player,” said Djokovic. “I wish him all the best. He's a nice guy… We've trained quite a bit [together], and now we played for the first time. I think if he keeps going in this way [that] he's definitely on the right path to becoming a top player one day.”

The 34-year-old Djokovic will next challenge Musetti’s compatriot, ninth seed Matteo Berrettini, in the quarter-finals on Wednesday after improving to 31-9 in five-set matches at the four Grand Slam championships.

“I like to play young guys in best-of-five, because I feel [that] even if they are leading a set or two-sets-to-love, as was the case today, I still like my chances,” said Djokovic. “Because I feel like I'm physically fit and I know how to wear my opponent down in the best-of-five match. I've won most of the five-setters I have played in this tournament and in my career, so I think that experience helps.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... 21-monday2

[Nando]

[Nando]

[Kamileki]

RG21: 49. wielkoszlemowy ćwierćfinał.


jordannews.net

1. Roger Federer 57
2. Novak Djoković 49
3. Rafael Nadal 44

[Bombardiero]

[Nando]

[Damian]

What Has Djokovic Done Better Than Nadal At Roland Garros?

Spoiler:

Learn the stars' stats through four matches in Paris
Through four rounds at Roland Garros, tournament favourites, 13-time champion Rafael Nadal and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, have played hundreds of points. Statistically, very little has separated them.

Nadal’s clear advantage is that he has not lost a set. Only three of the Spaniard’s 12 sets have gone further than 6-3. The lefty is the only man in the Open Era to win four Grand Slam titles without losing a set, and he is trying to make it five this fortnight. Only his quarter-final opponent, Diego Schwartzman, has also reached the last eight without dropping a set.

Djokovic needed to rally from two sets down against #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round. But in reality, because the Serbian turned around that match so emphatically, he has stayed on par with Nadal — if not ahead of the Spaniard — in most statistical categories.

2021 Roland Garros Stats (Until QFs)

Player Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal
Aces 30 17
Double Faults 10 17
1st Serve Pts Won 79.4% (197/248) 81.4% (162/199)
2nd Serve Pts Won 54.2% (64/118) 52.3% (68/130)
Return Pts Won 47.5% (173/364) 48% (162/337)
Break Pts Saved 84.2% (16/19) 55.6% (10/18)
Break Pts Converted 67.6% (25/37) 49.1% (26/53)
Net Pts Won 65.6% (59/90) 78.7% (48/61)
Winners 148 130
Unforced Errors 103 105
Time On Court 9:06 9:01
Sets Lost 2 0
The most glaring difference between the two has been in the highest-pressure moments. Djokovic has excelled when facing break points and trying to convert break points. Entering this tournament, the World No. 1 had only saved 61.4 per cent of break points faced in 2021 according to Infosys ATP Stats. In Paris, he has saved 84.2 per cent of them, only losing his serve three times.

Djokovic has converted 67.6 per cent of his break opportunities, which is better than his pre-Roland Garros season mark of 44.2 per cent. Although Nadal has earned more service breaks through four matches (26-25), the Spaniard has only taken advantage of 49.1 per cent of his chances.

You May Also Like: Wednesday Preview: Djokovic Wary Of Berrettini's Firepower
When you strip aces and double faults from Djokovic and Nadal’s winner and unforced error counts, they are extremely close. Outside of the serve, Nadal has hit 1.28 winners for every unforced error on the terre battue (113-88) and Djokovic has struck 1.27 winners per unforced error (118-93).

The lefty has enjoyed a lot of success coming to net. Nadal has won nearly 79 per cent of his net points compared to 65.6 per cent for Djokovic, and he might try to add to that against Schwartzman, who is a baseliner.

Nadal and Djokovic have also spent nearly the same amount of time on court to reach the quarter-finals. Djokovic has spent just five more minutes on the Parisian clay, despite his five-setter against Musetti, in which the Italian retired during the fifth set.

The all-time greats could meet in the semi-finals on Friday. But first, they will need to get through their quarter-finals on Wednesday, when Nadal battles Schwartzman and Djokovic takes on Matteo Berrettini.

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[Damian]

[Damian]

Blood, Sweat & Fears: Djokovic Escapes To Set Nadal SF

Spoiler:

World No. 1 takes down Berrettini to reach last four
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic left everything on the court as he withstood all of big-hitting Matteo Berrettini’s firepower to prevail 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 in a dramatic battle on Wednesday night. He booked a blockbuster Roland Garros semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic saved all three of the break points he faced against Berrettini on Court Philippe-Chatrier, which was rocking with fans during most of the night session for the first time in the fortnight after the city of Paris extended its nightly curfew to 11 p.m.

But even as fans were cleared out from the stadium in the middle of the fourth set, even when the Serbian lost his footing and cut open his left hand upon resumption, Djokovic never lost focus. With blood staining his racquet handle, the top seed survived after three hours and 28 minutes to face 13-time champion Nadal in a highly anticipated battle for a place in the Roland Garros final.

You May Also Like: Nadal Reaches 14th Roland Garros Semi-final
Djokovic and Nadal’s semi-final meeting, which will be a rematch of last year’s final, as well as the 2014 and 2012 championship matches, will be the 58th matchup of the ATP Tour’s most prolific rivalry. The World No. 1, who lifted the trophy here in 2016, is seeking to become the first man in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam title twice, while Nadal is in the hunt for an all-time record 21st Grand Slam crown. Djokovic leads Nadal 29-28 in their overall ATP Head2Head, while the Spaniard owns the 19-7 edge in clay-court matches.

Djokovic’s victory over Berrettini also made him the second man in history to reach 40 Grand Slam semi-finals after Roger Federer.

Most Grand Slam Men's Singles SF Appearances (all-time)

Player
Appearances
Roger Federer 46
Novak Djokovic 40
Rafael Nadal 35
Jimmy Connors 31
Ivan Lendl 28
Djokovic, who faced a five-set battle against another Italian, #NextGenATP Lorenzo Musetti, in the previous round, needed a few games to get going against Berrettini, who enjoyed an extra day of rest after receiving a walkover from Roger Federer.

With the fans willing on the Italian underdog, Berrettini raced out of the gates against Djokovic and used his booming groundstrokes to apply the pressure on his opponent’s serve. Berrettini created three break opportunities across Djokovic’s first four service games, but the World No. 1 held firm to save all three.

Instead, it was Berrettini – who had only faced four break points in the whole tournament, and saved two of those points – who blinked first. The 2016 Roland Garros champion is one of the best returners in the game, and he was able to neutralise the Italian’s big serve. Djokovic forced his opponent to keep hitting one more ball, regularly forcing errors out of Berrettini – including a forehand that went long to hand him the decisive break at 2-1.


Djokovic continued to pounce on the Berrettini second serve, allowing the Italian to win just 22 per cent (2/9) of those points, as he raised his level emphatically in the second set. Djokovic didn’t commit an unforced error until 5-2 on the scoreboard – by then, he was already up a double break and serving for the set.

But he was tested in the tight third set as Berrettini refused to wilt away. Djokovic was serving at a high level to stay in control, while the Italian saved one break point at 4-4 to keep them on serve as they went into a tie-break.

Berrettini found more winners in the third set – 23 to Djokovic’s 14 – especially off the forehand wing, and that shot would prove to be the difference in the tie-break, earning him the first mini-break at 4/3. Djokovic battled back, leading by 5/4 and two points away from the match – but a forehand error followed by a backhand into the net, his fourth and fifth unforced errors of the set, gave Berrettini set point. The Italian converted with a searing forehand that Djokovic couldn’t handle to send them into a fourth set.

Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

With both players on serve at 3-2, the match took another turn as the clock struck 11 p.m. in Paris, and fans had to clear out due to the city-wide curfew. After a 25-minute interruption, the players returned to a silent Chatrier – but there was more drama in store as Djokovic lost his footing and sliced his left hand open as Berrettini held serve. Djokovic never lost focus, despite being unable to bandage his hand in order to preserve his grip on the racquet. He stayed toe-to-toe with Berrettini, eventually earning three match points at 6-5, and outlasted the Italian from the baseline to seal the victory.

Berrettini was seeking to reach the semi-finals here for the first time, and equal his best Grand Slam performance (also 2019 US Open). He was also attempting to become just the second Italian man to take down the top seed at a Grand Slam in the Open Era – following in the footsteps of 1976 Roland Garros champion Adriano Panatta, who defeated No. 1 Bjorn Borg en route to the title.

Did You Know?
Djokovic is bidding to become the first man in the Open Era – and only the third man in history – to win each of the four Grand Slams twice. Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are the only men to have won each Grand Slam on two or more occasions.

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[Damian]

Djokovic v Nadal: The Complete Rivalry

Spoiler:

A recap of every match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal...

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet for a record 58th time in their ATP Head2Head series on Friday in the Roland Garros semi-finals. This will be their 15th battle in the semi-finals or later at the Grand Slams, and their ninth meeting at Roland Garros.

The legends most recently clashed in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on 16 May. Nadal won his 10th Rome crown after his fifth straight clay-court win over Djokovic to equal the Serbian’s record of 36 ATP Masters 1000 trophies.

Djokovic’s lead in their legendary ATP Head2Head rivalry now stands at 29-28. It was their first meeting since Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2020 Roland Garros final.


ATPTour.com breaks down a history of the duo's 57 career matches:

2021 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
Sixteen years on from beating Guillermo Coria over five sets for the 2005 Rome title, Nadal captured his 10th crown in the Eternal City with a disciplined performance over two hours and 49 minutes. Despite multiple momentum shifts in the championship clash, Nadal has now won 102 straight clay-court matches after winning the first set.

In a closely fought first set, Nadal recovered from 0-2 down and took his chance at 5-5, with a forehand winner down the line. With a dip in Nadal’s intensity, noticeably his groundstroke length, Djokovic reeled off five straight games from 1-1 in the second set. Having saved two break points at 2-2 in the decider, Nadal claimed 12 of the next 13 points to seize control of the final.

Nadal, who has now won 62 of his 88 career titles on clay, struck 26 of his 37 winners off his forehand wing. Read Match Report

2020 Roland Garros Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
Djokovic won the Internazionali BNL d'Italia leading into Roland Garros, and when he reached the Paris final, the Serbian had a 37-1 record on the 2020 season. But that mattered little to Nadal, who played an extraordinary match to defeat the top seed in two hours and 41 minutes. Nadal had not beaten Djokovic in straight sets at a Grand Slam since the 2008 Roland Garros semi-finals, and this was the Spaniard's most lopsided win at a major in their rivalry.

Nadal deserves credit for his relentless offence from the baseline. Not only did the lefty crush 31 winners in the match, but he only made 14 unforced errors. The more you go for it, the more often you typically miss. But on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Spaniard barely missed at all.

Djokovic was trying to win his 18th Grand Slam title and his second trophy at Roland Garros. He could have become the first man in the Open Era to complete two Career Grand Slams, but 52 unforced errors were his undoing. Read Match Report

2020 ATP Cup Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 7-6(4)
Entering the inaugural ATP Cup final, Djokovic had won 17 consecutive sets on hard courts against his Spanish rival. The Serbian continued that trend inside Ken Rosewall Arena in front of a raucous crowd, getting off to a quick start and never looking back against the World No. 1.

This match was critical for not only Djokovic, but also for his country. When the World No. 2 and Nadal walked on the court, Spain held a 1-0 lead in the tie. But Djokovic was up for the task, winning all but four service points in the opener to storm through the first set in 39 minutes.

The second set lasted nearly twice as long (76 minutes), as Nadal ramped up the aggression to put the pressure on Djokovic. The Spaniard serve-and-volleyed 10 times, winning eight of those points, after employing the tactic just once in the first set. But Djokovic completed his undefeated singles run at the ATP Cup by remaining calm in the second-set tie-break, winning his sixth match from six tries in Brisbane and Sydney combined.

2019 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
Nadal entered his 50th Masters 1000 final pursuing his first trophy of any kind in 2019. The Spaniard had not taken that long to win a title since 2004, the year he claimed his first tour-level victory.

But Nadal would not be denied against Djokovic, the top seed. Although the Serbian saved all four break points he faced in the second set to force a decider, Nadal earned 17 break points in the match, and that proved the difference. Nadal won a higher rate of his second-serve points (61%) than Djokovic did his first-serve points (60%), helping him earn a title for the 16th consecutive year.

Djokovic spent two hours and 12 minutes of more time on court than Nadal entering the final, and that showed in his slow start as well as in the third set. The Serbian used his drop shot well throughout the week, but lost many of those points against Nadal with the trophy on the line, and the Spaniard showed no hesitation from the baseline, especially with his forehand down the line.

2019 Australian Open Final, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
In an eagerly anticipated match-up, a repeat of their 2012 final in Melbourne Park, Djokovic started with a bang to win the first three games. Nadal, with his refined service motion and potent forehand, was unable to create an opening and through two sets Djokovic had lost just six of his service points and committed four unforced errors. Nadal continued to fight and created his lone break point at 2-3, 30/40 in the third set, but Djokovic was in irresistible form and put together one of the best performances of his career.

In capturing his 15th Grand Slam championship crown, the 73rd tour-level trophy of his career, the Serbian broke a tie with Pete Sampras (14). It was also a record-breaking seventh trophy at the Australian Open, moving past Roy Emerson and Roger Federer. Read Match Report

2018 Wimbledon SF, grass, Djokovic d. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 3-6, 10-8
It was clear that Djokovic had climbed closer to his best form ahead of the pair's semi-final at The Championships, hanging tough against Nadal in Rome, reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals and finishing runner-up at The Queen's Club. But could the Serbian overcome the greatest challenge of his comeback from a right elbow injury against World No. 1 Nadal, who was 35-2 on the season?

It turned out that the great rivals were evenly matched, with Djokovic saving five break points in a thrilling fifth set before triumphing after five hours and 15 minutes. And fittingly, they both hit 73 winners to just 42 unforced errors in the classic.

Djokovic earned his first Grand Slam semi-final win against Nadal to reach his fifth Wimbledon final, claiming the signature victory of his comeback to advance to his first major championship match since the 2016 US Open. Nadal had won 16 consecutive matches in the last four at Slams, but he bowed out after making his deepest run at the All England Club since 2011, when he lost in the final.

2018 Internazionali BNL d'Italia SF, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 7-6(4), 63
Entering the pair's first meeting in more than a year, Nadal was the clear favourite. The top seed had won 50 consecutive sets on clay — a record for the most sets claimed in a row on a single surface — before falling in the Madrid quarter-finals the previous week. And it was tough to tell how high Djokovic, still recovering from a right elbow injury, would be able to raise his level.

But the Serbian played excellent tennis, especially in the first set, comfortably finding the sharpest of angles from the backhand corner to give Nadal fits. But toward the end of the opening set, the Spaniard began to unleash his forehand down the line, therefore changing court positioning and taking control of baseline rallies, leading to his eventual victory.

It was an important win for Nadal, earning his 356th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 match victory to break a tie with Roger Federer (355) for the most in history. The 31-year-old also moved within one triumph of reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings after dropping to No. 2 with his loss in Madrid. The triumph not only showed Nadal's great form, but also that Djokovic, despite competing in just his first semi-final of 2018, is on his way back to his top level.


2017 Mutua Madrid Open SF, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-2, 6-4
During their historic 50th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, Nadal decidedly turned the tables on Djokovic, thoroughly outplaying the defending champion to reach his eighth Mutua Madrid Open final. Djokovic had owned their rivalry during recent years. The Serbian had won 15 consecutive sets and seven straight matches against Nadal.

It had been nearly three years since the “King of Clay” had prevailed against Djokovic – the 2014 Roland Garros final. But Nadal dominated from the start during their 50th meeting in Madrid, aggressively smashing forehands and confidently hitting backhand winners. Djokovic would make it a match in the second set but Nadal served out the final after one hour and 38 minutes.

The win further solidified Nadal's place in history as the greatest clay-court player and showed the tennis world that the Spaniard is back in top form. He improved to 14-0 in clay-court matches this season and will play for his third clay-court crown of the year, after winning a record 10th title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell earlier this season.

2016 Internazionali BNL d'Italia QF, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 75 76(4)
In their closest contest for almost two years, Djokovic rallied from a break down in both sets to thwart an in-form and enthusiastic Nadal. The Serb extended his recent mastery over the Spaniard to move into the Rome semi-finals for the 10th consecutive year. Djokovic has now won the past seven matches and 15 sets against Nadal.

The World No. 1 leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 26-23. He also moved within two matches of winning his 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.


2016 BNP Paribas Open SF, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 76(5) 62
Djokovic earned the opportunity to play for an unprecedented fifth BNP Paribas Open title after edging Nadal in the semi-finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. In the pair’s 48th meeting – an Open Era record on the ATP World Tour – the Serb claimed his sixth straight win over Nadal and has won 13 consecutive sets against the Spaniard.

Djokovic would go on to win the BNP Paribas Open final and join Nadal with a record 27 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles. The World No. 1 has won seven of the past 10 Masters 1000 events. Despite the loss, however, Nadal said he gained confidence from playing Djokovic better than he has in their recent matches.

2016 Qatar ExxonMobil Open F, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 61 62
Djokovic made sure the lone blip in his jaw-dropping 2015 campaign - a Doha quarter-final defeat to Ivo Karlovic - was a distant memory. The World No. 1 captured his sixth consecutive ATP World Tour title and 60th overall at the tour-level. He became just the 10th player in the Open Era to reach the 60-title milestone, drawing level with Andre Agassi in a tie for ninth.


After streaking to a 6-1 first set after just 31 minutes, Djokovic continued to apply pressure on Nadal, suffocating the Spaniard from the baseline with a ruthless display of aggression. He converted his third break point in the opening game of the second set and secured another break to all but seal the match at 4-1. He would wrap up the match after 73 minutes, striking a total 30 winners to just 13 unforced errors.

The Serb leads the historic FedEx ATP Head2Head for the first time at 24-23. He has now claimed 11 consecutive sets since Nadal prevailed in the 2014 Roland Garros final.

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2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals SF, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 63 63
Djokovic turned in a comprehensive performance in reaching a fourth consecutive final at The O2 in London, advancing to an 85th tour-level title match.

Djokovic was on the attack immediately against Nadal's own serve, pouncing on a short second serve for a return winner in the very first point and breaking to love for a quick 2-0 lead. The Belgrade native struck 12 winners and just one unforced error through the first three games. He was in control at the baseline, dictating play on his own terms and most importantly refusing to yield an inch on his own serve.

Patterns persisted in the second set, with Djokovic using his agility to stand tall on the baseline and he would break for 3-2 after a 25-shot rally. The Serb launched a backhand winner down-the-line on the run to give him his first match point at 5-3 and he would capitalise with another backhand winner - this time going cross-court.

With his consecutive finals reached streak up to 15 tournaments, Djokovic became the first player to claim 30 match wins against Top 10 opponents in a single season.

2015 China Open F, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 62 62
Djokovic extended his run of dominance in Beijing to 29-0 with a gritty victory over Nadal in the final. It was the Serb's seventh win over Nadal in their last eight meetings, a run that began at the 2013 China Open final. The World No. 1, who had already clinched the year-end top spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings, improved to a stunning 68-5 in 2015 and 23-4 against Top 10 opponents.

Djokovic would get off to a flying start in his quest for a sixth Beijing title, breaking immediately in the first game and again for 5-2 after turning aside a pair of break chances in the sixth game. Nadal would receive a visit from the trainer for an apparent leg ailment midway through the third game of the second set and Djokovic would pounce, breaking for 2-1. He did not look back, surging to the title after 91 minutes. The top seed struck 23 winners, including seven aces.

"This has definitely been my most successful tournament," said Djokovic during the trophy ceremony. "Beijing has been a lucky place for me. In 2008, I remember the Olympic Games when Rafa won gold and the tradition of Asian tennis started here. I played a great tournament overall and continued playing well today. Rafa and I have played 45 times and I hope that continues."

2015 Roland Garros QF, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 75 63 61
On his seventh attempt, Djokovic finally dethroned nine-time champion Nadal on the red clay of Roland Garros, handing the Spaniard just his second loss in Paris and maintaining his hopes of completing the career Grand Slam.

In one of the most highly anticipated Grand Slam quarter-finals in history, Djokovic raced to a 4-love lead in the first set before sixth-seeded Nadal battled back to level the match. Despite the momentum shift, the Serb would find his footing to claim the first set in 67 minutes.

Djokovic was dominant on his serve in the second set, claiming 16 of 18 straight service points, before eventually taking a two-set lead. He carried that momentum into the final set, limiting Nadal to just three total forehand winners and claiming victory in two hours and 26 minutes.

2015 Monte-Carlo SF, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 63 63
Djokovic reached his fourth Monte-Carlo by denying Rafael Nadal once again at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Their 43rd meeting with a tale of the seventh game. Djokovic is now riding a 16-match winning streak and is on course to capture four straight ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles.

Nadal took a 2-0 lead at the start of the match, as Djokovic – the form player of 2015 – was tested, but regrouped to win three straight games. In an 11-minute seventh game, which saw Djokovic save one break, his greater weight of shots eventually over-stretched Nadal. Djokovic broke for a 5-3 lead, but Nadal battled throughout the 43-minute opener.

Djokovic playing on, or inside, the baseline, withstood a stern examination of his backhand, to create two break point chances in the opening game but he could not make a breakthrough. Nadal led 40/0 it 3-3, but was left to rue two forehand errors and a double fault as Djokovic went on to claim the 19-point game. Djokovic earned his 29th match win of the season with a backhand winner into space.

2014 Roland Garros, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 36 75 62 64
Nadal prevented Djokovic from completing a career Grand Slam, as he retained his No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking and became the first player in history to win nine titles at a major. He also drew level with Pete Sampras at No. 2 in the Grand Slam title-leaders list on 14 major crowns.

The Spaniard had lost eight of his past nine sets against Djokovic entering the Roland Garros final, and once again fell behind to start the match as Djokovic broke in the eighth game and survived a pair of break points. Though the winner of the first set had gone on to triumph nine times in their 11 previous Grand Slam meetings, a free-swinging Nadal drew level at a set apiece with a break and quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead in the third. The Serbian found renewed energy in the fourth set, recovering a break in the seventh game, but was unable to hold serve to stay in the match as he double-faulted on championship point.

2014 Internazionali BNL d'Italia Final, Rome, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 46 63 63
Djokovic pulled closer to Nadal in the battle for No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings by claiming his third Rome title and 19th at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level. It was the Serb's second triumph over his rival in a Rome final, having prevailed in the 2011 title match.

Nadal entered their 41st encounter having spent over 10 hours on court through the semi-finals, but the seven-time champion showed no signs of fatigue in the early stages. He would surge to a double-break lead in the first set behind a ferocious offensive onslaught, and held on to take the opener in 46 minutes. In their previous 10 meetings, the player who had won the first set went on to win the match. Djokovic was ready to buck the trend, finding his range and rhythm in the second and third sets and turning the tables with a tenacious attacking display. He would hold Nadal to winning under 28 per cent of second serve points won for the rest of the match, firing return winners with ease and standing tall on the baseline. Djokovic's 46 winners (including 15 from the backhand side) and six aces were too much for Nadal to overcome.


Read Matches 1-10
Read Matches 11 to 20
Read Matches 21 to 30
Read Matches 31 to 40

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[Damian]

Djokovic & Nadal's Roland Garros Rivalry

Spoiler:

They will meet on the Parisian clay for the ninth time on Friday
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have battled more times in their ATP Head2Head rivalry than any players in history. On Friday, they will meet for the ninth time at Roland Garros.

Nadal has dominated the clay-court Grand Slam throughout his career, tallying a jaw-dropping 105-2 record. But one of the two men who has beaten the Spaniard is 2016 champion Djokovic, who will be standing across the net on Court Philippe-Chatier in the semi-finals.

Thirteen-time titlist Nadal will take a 7-1 lead in their Roland Garros series into the clash. Before the blockbuster showdown, ATPTour.com looks back at their previous meetings on the Parisian terre battue.

2020 Roland Garros Final, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5

Djokovic won the Internazionali BNL d'Italia leading into Roland Garros, and when he reached the Paris final, the Serbian had a 37-1 record on the 2020 season. But that mattered little to Nadal, who played an extraordinary match to defeat the top seed in two hours and 41 minutes. Nadal had not beaten Djokovic in straight sets at a Grand Slam since the 2008 Roland Garros semi-finals, and this was the Spaniard's most lopsided win at a major in their rivalry. Nadal deserves credit for his relentless offence from the baseline. Not only did the lefty crush 31 winners in the match, but he only made 14 unforced errors. The more you go for it, the more often you typically miss. But on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Spaniard barely missed at all.

Djokovic was trying to win his 18th Grand Slam title and his second trophy at Roland Garros. He could have become the first man in the Open Era to complete two Career Grand Slams, but 52 unforced errors were his undoing.

Nadal

2015 Roland Garros QF, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 75 63 61
On his seventh attempt, Djokovic finally dethroned nine-time champion Nadal on the red clay of Roland Garros, handing the Spaniard just his second loss in Paris and maintaining his hopes of completing the career Grand Slam. In one of the most highly anticipated Grand Slam quarter-finals in history, Djokovic raced to a 4-love lead in the first set before sixth-seeded Nadal battled back to level the match. Despite the momentum shift, the Serb would find his footing to claim the first set in 67 minutes.

Djokovic was dominant on his serve in the second set, claiming 16 of 18 straight service points, before eventually taking a two-set lead. He carried that momentum into the final set, limiting Nadal to just three total forehand winners and claiming victory in two hours and 26 minutes.

2014 Roland Garros F, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 36 75 62 64
Nadal prevented Djokovic from completing a career Grand Slam, as he retained his No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking and became the first player in history to win nine titles at a major. He also drew level with Pete Sampras at No. 2 in the Grand Slam title-leaders list on 14 major crowns.

The Spaniard had lost eight of his past nine sets against Djokovic entering the Roland Garros final, and once again fell behind to start the match as Djokovic broke in the eighth game and survived a pair of break points. Though the winner of the first set had gone on to triumph nine times in their 11 previous Grand Slam meetings, a free-swinging Nadal drew level at a set apiece with a break and quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead in the third. The Serbian found renewed energy in the fourth set, recovering a break in the seventh game, but was unable to hold serve to stay in the match as he double-faulted on championship point.



2013 Roland Garros semi-final, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 36 61 67(3) 97
Both players were competing for a shot at history. Djokovic was attempting to have a shot at winning his first Roland Garros crown, which would make him the eighth man in tennis history to complete the career Grand Slam. Nadal was going for an eighth title in Paris. Djokovic had dealt Nadal a harsh defeat in their previous meeting at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he ended the Spaniard’s 46-match winning streak at the event. Did it weigh on Nadal’s mind? The Spaniard was two points from victory when he led 6-5, 30/15 in the fourth set, but he tightened up and Djokovic fought back into contention. Nadal then came back from a 2-4 deficit in the drama-filled fifth set, which lasted 87 minutes, to give the match an enthralling finish. The semi-final last four hours and 37 minutes and kept alive Nadal’s 21-match winning streak. It was only the second five-set match Nadal had played at the major, with the first being a first-round win over John Isner in 2011.

2012 Roland Garros final, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 63 26 75
The two were meeting for the fourth time at Roland Garros, with Nadal taking their previous three Paris clashes in straight sets. Djokovic was appearing in the final for the first time. In a final that was played over two days due to several rain delays, Nadal hit 34 winners to 29 unforced errors, and led two sets and a break before the Serbian rallied to win eight consecutive games en route to clinching his first set over Nadal at the tournament. He took a 2-1 break lead before play was suspended for the day on 10 June. When played resumed on Monday, Nadal broke back to level at 2-all and went on to wrap up the final victory in three hours and 49 minutes after Djokovic hit his fourth double fault to end the match. Djokovic was looking to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam championship titles. Nadal improved to 3-0 against Djokovic on clay in 2012.

Nadal

2008 Roland Garros semi-final, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 62 76(3)
Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal tightened his grip on the No. 2 spot in the South African Airways ATP Rankings by extending his Roland Garros record to 27-0 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(3) win over No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic in two hours and 49 minutes. Nadal became the first man since Ivan Lendl from 1984-1987 to reach four consecutive finals, and just the third man in the Open Era to do so. Djokovic was unable to generate any break points on Nadal’s serve throughout the first set and, with his attacking play nullified by great defense from Nadal, he went on to lose the first set 6-4 after 57 minutes. The Spaniard closed out the set 6-2 with a forehand winner after 91 minutes, and put the match out of Djokovic’s reach by going up a double break in the third set. Djokovic fought back and had a chance to win his first set against the Spaniard at Roland Garros when he earned a set point after an effective return in the 12th game. However, Nadal denied him and went on to take the match on the tie-break.

2007 Roland Garros semi-finals, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 75 64 62
Both started the semifinal as the only ATP players to have broken the 40-win plateau on the season. Novak Djokovic, a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist, challenged Rafael Nadal in the 66-minute first set as he came from down two breaks to get back on serve at five games all. But Nadal promptly closed the set as he won the next two games. Djokovic had an opportunity to take the 2-0 lead in the next set, but Nadal saved three break points and never looked back. He converted on three of his remaining four break chances in the match to cement the 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 win in two hours and 28 minutes. The Spaniard went on to become the second player in Roland Garros history (since 1925) to win three consecutive titles in Paris.

2006 Roland Garros quarter-finals, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 64 ret. (thigh, back)
Defending champion Rafael Nadal struggled with his serve, but Novak Djokovic was never 100 per cent fit and attempted to keep the points short throughout his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal. Nadal, who led Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, notched his 58th consecutive clay-court victory when the World No. 63 retired with a back and thigh injury after one hour and 54 minutes. Nadal extended his perfect Roland Garros record to 12-0 and stood two wins away from a century of career wins (98-12) on crushed brick.

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[Kamileki]

RG21: 40. wielkoszlemowy półfinał.


tours.maville.com

1. Roger Federer 46
2. Novak Djoković 40
3. Rafael Nadal 35

[Damian]

Djokovic On Facing Nadal At Roland Garros: 'It's Not Like Any Other Match'

Spoiler:

The top seed looks ahead to Nadal blockbuster after beating Berrettini
Beating Matteo Berrettini was one thing. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic knows that ousting 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal on Friday in the semi-finals will be an entirely different monster.

“It's not like any other match. Let's face it, it's the biggest challenge that you can have: playing on clay against Nadal, on this court on which he has had so much success in his career, in the final stages of a Grand Slam. It doesn't get bigger than that,” Djokovic said. “Of course, each time we face each other, there's that extra tension and expectations. [The] vibes are different walking on the court with him. But that's why our rivalry has been historic, I think, for this sport. I've been privileged to play him so many times.

“[My] rivalries with him and Roger [Federer] have made me a stronger player, allowed me to understand how I need to improve my game to get to the level where they were when I started playing professional tennis. I'll probably pick Rafa as the biggest rival I've ever had in my career.

“The anticipation for the match against him — any match, any surface, any occasion — is always different from any other.”

You May Also Like: Blood, Sweat & Fears: Djokovic Escapes To Set Nadal SF
Djokovic and Nadal have clashed a record 57 times in their legendary ATP Head2Head rivalry. Although the Serbian leads their series 29-28, he is 1-7 against the Spaniard at Roland Garros. That doesn’t scare the top seed, though.

“The quality and the level of tennis that I've been playing in the past three, four weeks on clay — [in] Rome, Belgrade and here — is giving me good sensations and feelings ahead of that match,” Djokovic said. “I’m confident. I believe I can win, otherwise I wouldn't be here. Let's have a great battle.”

Djokovic is certainly locked into battle mode in Paris. The 2016 titlist fought hard to eliminate Berrettini in four sets. After clinching his victory, Djokovic let out a cathartic roar.


“This match had it all: falls, a crowd, a break. It was a lot of intensity. I just felt under tension the entire time,” Djokovic said. “I felt like I missed some of the chances to end the match in the third set. I didn't want to give him too many opportunities to dictate the match. That's why it was just super, super stressful to constantly be under pressure on my service games because his service games were quite smooth with [his] big serve.

“The reaction in the end was just me liberating that tension that was building up for the entire match.”

In their only previous meeting, Djokovic crushed Berrettini 6-2, 6-1 at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals. The World No. 1 had his hands full in Paris though, needing three hours and 24 minutes to advance.

“The crowd lifted him up. He was playing some really powerful tennis. Especially in the third and fourth, he served tremendously [hard] and precisely. It was just very difficult to read his serve and play someone like him,” Djokovic said. “He's very talented. He can play well from the back of the court. He's got a lethal forehand, drop shots… When he's on, it's tough to play him.”

The challenge will only get tougher against Nadal.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... f-reaction

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Nando]

@DUN I LOVE Gołta obrazają

Eee to stare.

[DUN I LOVE]

Cóż, pasy (pokroju Mario) szczekają, karawana jedzie dalej.