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Nadal chases elusive slam, Djokovic in the way
Source: Agencies |
September 13, 2010, Monday
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NOVAK Djokovic is all that stands between Rafael Nadal and his official crowning as one of the game's greatest allround players.
If Nadal wins the US Open final against Djokovic, the Spaniard will join a select band of seven men who have won all four grand slam titles. And at 24, he will be the second youngest to achieve the feat.
Nadal has never played in the US Open final before but the odds of winning are heavily stacked in his favor.
The world No. 1 has won 14 of his previous 21 matches against Djokovic and is in the best form of his life.
"I feel great. For me, it's a pleasure being here," Nadal said after beating Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in Saturday's semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
Nadal won this year's French Open for a fifth time. A month later he won his second Wimbledon crown. If he wins the US Open final he will become the first man to win those three titles in the same year since Australia's Rod Laver in 1969.
"It's not a dream, because a dream is to win the tournament," Nadal said. "But it is a very, very important tournament for me to be in the final."
Most significantly, the lefthander has arrived in New York in the best shape of his career.
The US Open has proven the most difficult for the world No. 1 to win because of the wear and tear the Flushing Meadows hardcourts had on his body, but Nadal has made some adjustments that have helped him stay in top form.
He has worked hard on improving his serve so that he can win points more easily rather than have to scamper around the courts and it has a paid off as he reached the final without losing a single set and dropped just two games on serve.
But Nadal, who began his career regarded as a claycourt specialist and went on to win majors on grass and hardcourt, remains wary of Djokovic, who is appearing in his second US Open final.
Although Nadal has won two-thirds of their career meetings, he trails Djokovic 5-7 away from clay.
"You think it's gonna be an easy match for me? I don't think so. For me, it's gonna be a very difficult match," Nadal said.
Djokovic, 23, had a shaky start to the tournament with a tough five-setter but has been in brilliant form since. He won his next four matches in straight sets before defeating world No. 2 Roger Federer in a nailbiting semifinal on Saturday, saving two match points before winning 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
The world No. 3 and 2008 Australian Open winner was so exhausted after beating Federer that he said he hoped it rained all day, but he is not without hope.
"It's true that on hardcourt I do have my best chances against Rafa but he's still No. 1 in the world and the one that playing great tennis," Djokovic said.
If Nadal wins the US Open final against Djokovic, the Spaniard will join a select band of seven men who have won all four grand slam titles. And at 24, he will be the second youngest to achieve the feat.
Nadal has never played in the US Open final before but the odds of winning are heavily stacked in his favor.
The world No. 1 has won 14 of his previous 21 matches against Djokovic and is in the best form of his life.
"I feel great. For me, it's a pleasure being here," Nadal said after beating Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in Saturday's semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
Nadal won this year's French Open for a fifth time. A month later he won his second Wimbledon crown. If he wins the US Open final he will become the first man to win those three titles in the same year since Australia's Rod Laver in 1969.
"It's not a dream, because a dream is to win the tournament," Nadal said. "But it is a very, very important tournament for me to be in the final."
Most significantly, the lefthander has arrived in New York in the best shape of his career.
The US Open has proven the most difficult for the world No. 1 to win because of the wear and tear the Flushing Meadows hardcourts had on his body, but Nadal has made some adjustments that have helped him stay in top form.
He has worked hard on improving his serve so that he can win points more easily rather than have to scamper around the courts and it has a paid off as he reached the final without losing a single set and dropped just two games on serve.
But Nadal, who began his career regarded as a claycourt specialist and went on to win majors on grass and hardcourt, remains wary of Djokovic, who is appearing in his second US Open final.
Although Nadal has won two-thirds of their career meetings, he trails Djokovic 5-7 away from clay.
"You think it's gonna be an easy match for me? I don't think so. For me, it's gonna be a very difficult match," Nadal said.
Djokovic, 23, had a shaky start to the tournament with a tough five-setter but has been in brilliant form since. He won his next four matches in straight sets before defeating world No. 2 Roger Federer in a nailbiting semifinal on Saturday, saving two match points before winning 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
The world No. 3 and 2008 Australian Open winner was so exhausted after beating Federer that he said he hoped it rained all day, but he is not without hope.
"It's true that on hardcourt I do have my best chances against Rafa but he's still No. 1 in the world and the one that playing great tennis," Djokovic said.
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