Wimbledon Has A New Champion In Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic became the new Wimbledon champion defeating Nadal in four sets 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 .

Djokovic played the same game with which he had defeated Nadal in the four ATP Masters finals played this year. In the rallies, it was Nadal who was made to play a defensive retrieval which Djokovic was able to smash to the other corner easily. Djokovic was returning Nadal’s serve better. The second shot after serve which is the winner shot from Nadal, was infact becoming a defensive shot sometimes. Djokovic was able to create more acute angles since he was standing nearer the baseline and taking the ball early. He was making Nadal run from corner to corner and creating gaps.

It was Djokovic who got the first break as was looking imminent. Since Nadal had chosen to receive serve after winning the toss, it became the set point at 4-5. Nadal could not put his first serves on crucial points in the game which showed his state of mind. He then committed unforced error to give the set to Djokovic 4-6.

No winners from Nadal were passing the racquet of Djokovic and Nadal was committing errors, especially from the forehand. Djokovic was clearly in ascendancy.

Superlative shots in the first service game of Nadal gave Djokovic the break in the second set. Nadal was nonplussed. His body language became defeatist. Djokovic was drawing all the applause from the stands. His court coverage and footwork was better than that of Nadal. It was looking as if Djokovic had magnet on his racquet. He was always in proper position to play his shots. His victory shouts were eating into the confidence of Nadal. There was no way Nadal could win even a set in this match if the same pattern continued. He continued to hit more winners and commit fewer errors. His shots were landing so close to the lines that nobody could have taken them. Djokovic got the second break playing so acute angles that Nadal looked shattered. In between points, Nadal was walking in such a dejected way to the other side of the court that he appeared mentally out of the match. Djokovic served out the second set 6-2 with ease.

There was more power and more safety in Djokovic shots. The first two sets had taken such a little time, that both players were very fresh physically, though mentally Nadal appeared jaded. Nadal’s lifting action which has imparted extraordinary top spin was sending the shot out of the court. Pace of the game and power on the shots were working in favour of Djokovic. Dampening the game and shots was the need of the hour but it was not in Nadal’s plan perhaps. It was in the second game of the third set that Nadal earned his first break point. A netted backhand from Djokovic gave Nadal first thing to cheer about. Dejected as he became, errors crept into Djokovic game from this point. Nadal continued with his same game and found himself winning riding on Djokovic errors. He was seen hitting more to the forehand of Djokovic than his usual inside in forehand from the deuce court. Djokovic who was anticipating Nadal’s stock shots well started giving gaps on his forehand side. A double fault on break point gave opportunity to Nadal to serve out the set. Djokovic appeared now to let this set pass and mount his aggression in the fourth set. Nadal got the last game of the third set at love. It was clear that there would be a no holds barred battle in the fourth set. 

Djokovic saved a break point in the first service game which Nadal should have converted since the momentum was with him. This was the turning point. Confidence of saving the break point gave the fillip needed by Djokovic. He earned two break points in the very first service game of Nadal. He converted without difficulty to go up 2-0. Nadal too earned a break point in the very next game and was distinctly lucky to get it courtesy the net cord. But Nadal returns of serve were so poor that Djokovic was invariably going up 30-0 in his service games. The set appeared to be going the same was as the first set. Djokovic was serving first and the danger was always there with Nadal. It happened at 3-4 on Nadal’s serve. Nadal committed his first double fault and Djokovic sensed blood. He started playing his best tennis and got the crucial break. It was now on Djokovic racquet to serve out the match. He did so without any difficulty winning the set 6-3.

Nadal’s main difficulty was that his second shot after serve which is his winning shot was taken away when Djokovic return often fell at his feet, deep on the baseline. More than that, the choice to receive than serve first, was indicative of the confidence level with which Nadal entered the court. Wimbledon can celebrate a new champion. Tennis world can celebrate victory for the new number one.