Monday 13 July 2015

Novak Djokovic Supreme

Despite his compelling achievements over the past several years, many are still reluctant to afford the best male tennis player on the planet his due full credit.  Amazingly some writers continue to couch the Djokovic stats in terms of a tired "Big Four" picture.  But more of that later.

The 2015 final was the second in a row fought between seven time winner Roger Federer and the world number one Novak Djokovic who has won all the big tournaments in which he has competed this year, bar Roland Garros.  Would he be able to put the massive disappointment of failure again in Paris behind him and repeat his famous 2014 Wimbledon win over Roger?  The question apparently took on more weight given the thrashing dished out to Andy Murray by Federer in the semi final.

Djokovic eased into another final - his third straight - still breathing a sigh of relief following his fourth round escape against Kevin Anderson.  Experts were divided, but enough were swayed by hope that Federer could capture another GS title, such a success having eluded him for three years.

The Swiss star opened best, attacking with flair and limiting the avenues for effective Djokovic replies.  Serving at 4-2, the first set surely was Roger's.  However, if one player is capable of dealing with the Federer serve it is Novak, and he struck back in timely fashion, breaking for 3-4 and readying himself for a tie break.  He almost didn't reach the breaker, needing two big serves at 5-6 to avoid going a set down.  Instead, after levelling at 6-6, the top seed raced away, losing only a single point in the tie break, and receiving a double fault from Roger for a 7-6 first set win.

Set two saw no service breaks in the first nine games, but a double fault from Federer at 4-5 30-30 gave Djokovic a set point.  This was saved, as was a break point on Djokovic's next serve, and another tie break eventually arrived.  At 3-6, things appeared bleak for Roger but he held strong, winning his two serves and requiring Novak to serve for a two set lead.

We were only half way as it turned out, both players providing one of the finest pieces of tie break entertainment in living memory.  Federer staved off set points before finally grabbing his chance, serve volleying to win the set 7-6, 12-10 in the breaker.

Djokovic was visibly angry, mostly with his feet which he assaulted heavily with his racquet.  Those feet moved pretty well in response in the third set, assisting a service break in the fifth game, the last played before a rain delay.

Once back from the interruption, Novak did not drop serve again and the set was his 6-4.

Federer was finding less time to react to the Djokovic ground strokes, with the number one standing closer in at the baseline and hitting with a winning precision.  The fifth game of set four was déjà vu, with the Swiss serve broken and the match effectively over.

Roger could not make sufficient impact on the solid Serb serve, and in an instant he himself was at the line serving at 3-5 to stay in the contest.  It was too overwhelming, and a stunning backhand return to bring up two match points, followed by a forehand winner, concluded the match.

Novak Djokovic had won a third Wimbledon crown 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3.

Of the past 20 Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic has won 8 (15 final appearances), Nadal 6 (10), Murray 2 (6), Wawrinka 2 (2), Federer 1 (4), Cilic 1 (1)

1 comment:

  1. Glad to see that you are still blogging Tony!

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