Entry tags:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC bt Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1, US Open Men's Singles Final 2011
Wow! That was worth staying up for. It was certainly a classic and among the best I've ever seen, even though it didn't last the distance. Novak even had an opportunity to serve for the match in the third set itself, and even if it had ended there I would've still described it as a classic. The quality of tennis was mind-boggling and though it was one-sided, in the sense Djokovic outplayed Nadal, it wasn't an easy-ride. Think of the 2008 French Open Final between Nadal and Federer as a contrast in which the Spaniard won in straight sets by pulverising the Swiss into submission and wiping the red clay with him. This match was brutal, lasting 4h10 but it could easily have lasted over five hours had Nadal maintained the momentum he gained in the third. As it was, the last set was a bit of an anti-climax as the Serbian World Number 1 streamrolled his way to a third Grand Slam singles title for the year and sixth consecutive victory over Rafa in 2011 (all of them in finals). With just two losses all season (one of them in which he retired, the other to Federer in the French Open S/F), it's fair to say this has been one of the greatest achievements in the history of sport. And to cap it off, he marries a gorgeous lass next month!