16. 05. 2009. ·
World no.4 Novak Djokovic lost after great fight to world no.1 Rafael Nadal in three sets 6-3 6-7(5) 6-7(9) at the Madrid Masters tournament (€3,700,000) , in a remarkable semifinal match that lasted 4 hours and 2 minutes.
This was their 18th meeting, Nadal now leads 14-4 (9-0 on clay).
Djokovic started the match very well and had a quick opening game. No.3 seed won a fantastic 25 shot rally at 30-15 in the second game. He earned a break point and Nadal double faulted to hand him the first break. Novak had a break-set point in the eighth game, but Rafa held. The Serb was convincing serving for the set to close it 6-3.
World no.1 saved a break point in the third game of the second set and took the game on his second game point chance. Nole took the next game to 15 with a superb double handed backhand down the line to level the score. The 21-year-old earned two more break points in the ninth game, but Nadal saved them with fantastic services. Djokovic was pushed to deuce for the first time in the match, but managed to hold for 5-5. Novak failed to convert a break point in the eleventh game when Rafa hit another powerful service to save it. After missing 4 chances to break in the second set, the Serb faced a break point for the first time in the match. It was also a set point for Nadal, but Nole held and the set went to a tiebreaker. No.1 seed made one mini-break and it was enough for him to take it 7-5.
Djokovic made a break in the fourth game of the third set to go 3-1 up, but Nadal broke back immediately and then held for 3-3. The Serb pushed Rafa to deuce twice in the eighth game, but world no.1 held. There were no breaks til the end of the set and it was decided in a tiebreaker. Nole missed three match points, Nadal used his second to win it 11-9.
”I’m very disappointed that I can play this well and still not win a match,” said Djokovic. “I’ve think that I’ve played my best tennis on this surface. A couple of points decided the winner.”
Djokovic served 6 aces to Nadal’s 3.
The Serb hit 37 winners to the Spaniard’s 31, and made 43 unforced errors, 7 less than world no.1.
Nole capitalised on 2 of his 8 chances for break, while Rafa converted 1 of his 2 break points.
’I’m very disappointed that I can play this well and still not win a match’-said Novak at the press conference. ‘I think that I’ve played my best tennis on this surface. A couple of points decided the winner. I’m taking positives [from] the last couple of matches we’ve played on this surface and the positives are that I’m one point away from the victory. I don’t know, next time I’ll probably take two rackets on the match point. I don’t know what to do’-added Djokovic.
Novak will have eight days to rest and recover from this tough loss. His next tournament is Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the season where he defends semifinals.
