That’s all from me today. Thanks a lot to all for following over the past few weeks and also the crazy last six weeks of Grand Slam tennis.
Another slam season ends but should things go well, Australia beckons in 2 and a half months. Here is our first report after Rafael Nadal’s incredible win.
Roland Garros 2021 starts in 32 weeks (224 days)#RG21
— Steph Trudel (@TrudelSteph) October 11, 2020
How it started: How it's going: @RafaelNadal #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/6zfBuKADun
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 11, 2020
By the Numbers: @RafaelNadal at #RolandGarros
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) October 11, 2020
1,938-969 Games (.667)
299-27 Sets (.917)
100-2 Matches (.980)
39-Match Win Streak (2010-15)
38-Set Win Streak (2016-18)
31-0 to Begin Career
27-1 vs Top 10
26-0 SF-F
20 Sets 6-0
7-1 vs No. 1
4 Titles with 0 Sets Lost
2-0 in 5th Sets
Rafa and Roger at the 🔝#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/D6h4B8vZPE
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 11, 2020
Toniiii 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/cpQNLFfEbu
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) October 11, 2020
Novak Djokovic’s runner up speech.
Today you showed why you’re king of the clay [laughing]. I have experienced it on my own skin. It was a very tough match for me today, obviously I’m not so pleased with the way I played but I was definitely overplayed by a better player today on the court.
A trilingual Rafael Nadal after being asked about equalling Federer’s record:
A very tough year. Win here means everything to me. It’s not the moment, honest for me I don’t think today about the 20th, equal Roger on this great number. For me, today is just a Roland Garros victory. Roland Garros means everything to me. I spent here most of the important moments in my tennis career, no doubt about that... for me, just play her is true inspiration. The love story I have with this city and with this court is unforgettable and just merci beaucoup a tout le monde.
Rafael Nadal:
I want to send a message, everyone around the world, we are facing one of the worst moments that I think we remember in this world facing and fighting against this virus. Just keep going, stay positive and all the very best. Together probably we will go through this and we will win the virus soon.
Rafael Nadal to Novak Djokovic:
Congrats to Novak for another great tournament. Sorry for today, you know. In Australia he killed me a couple of times ago. Today was for me, that’s part of the game. We’ve played plenty of times together: one day wins one, another day wins the other. So just all the best for the future, Novak.
Rafael Nadal’s new winning percentage 15 years after his first Roland Garros match: 98.0392157%
Important update. Most men’s Grand Slam titles (all time):
1. Roger Federer - 20
1. Rafael Nadal - 20
3. Novak Djokovic - 17
Updated
Rafael Nadal wins his 13th Roland Garros title, beating Novak Djokovic 6-0 6-2 7-5
Nadal blinked once in the the third set, perhaps just feeling the pressure of having to maintain such a high level against the world number one. But his attitude was perfect as ever and he was able to finish off one of the best achievements of his career. In the end, he served it out to love with an ace.
20 slam titles. 13 Roland Garros titles. 100-2 at Roland Garros. Astounding.
Updated
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 5-6* Rafael Nadal
Nadal breaks and he will serve for the title! What a collapse by Djokovic, who was leading 30-15 and seemed well on his way to a hold. From 30-15, Djokovic mis-timed a backhand into the net, then sent a forehand long. At 30-40, he double faulted.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 *5-5 Rafael Nadal
Not a good return game from Djokovic with the scoreboard pressure on Nadal’s shoulders. From 30-15, he handed Nadal a simple hold with two consecutive backhand errors. He was seething after the final error and for good reason.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 5-4* Rafael Nadal
Djokovic holds again and he is starting to get very animated. After crushing a winning crosscourt backhand at 30-30, he roared to the skies and then barked “allez!” at the ballkids to hurry them between points. At 40-30, he dumped a backhand and gesticulated to his box.
After falling down break point, Djokovic found a couple of big serves, saving break point with a backhand winner off a 189kmh second serve and then dominating behind a couple more first serves.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 *4-4 Rafael Nadal
A very good hold to 30 from Nadal, keeping himself in the set. Sensing the moment, Nadal is grunting louder, pumping his fist more readily and he came up with a timely, brilliant forehand winner at 15-15. Djokovic’s forehand aggression yielded two errors at 30-15 and then 40-30, Which Nadal will happily take.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 4-3* Rafael Nadal
Some momentum from Novak Djokovic at last, who breezes through a quick hold to 15, closing it off with a very confident serve and volley.
Nadal won 11 of the first games and he has demolished Djokovic for much of the match, but he knows as well as anybody how important these next few games are.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 *3-3 Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic may have finally arrived, breaking Nadal for the first time. There were some nerves for Nadal at last, who shanked a routine forehand at 30-30 to hand Djokovic break point. Djokovic decided on a drop shot, which Nadal responded to with a sweet angled forehand to scupper it.
However, Djokovic sensed the opportunity and immediately went on the attack from deuce, smothering Nadal in consecutive points and ending on break point with a great wrong-footing backhand down the line winner.
For the first time today, he roared to the crowd and pumped himself up. In the stands, his coach Marian Vajda pumped his fists. Let’s see.
Blue sets to love lead for @RafaelNadal...#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/0jBgJMHFs7
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 11, 2020
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 2-3* Rafael Nadal
Nadal breaks to love to move up two sets and a break, edging closer towards another Roland Garros title. That was a sad, sad service game from Djokovic. Although Nadal hit one excellent crosscourt forehand winner at 0-15, Djokovic gave it away with three weak unforced errors. At the moment, it doesn’t look like he has much fight left.
Updated
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 *2-2 Rafael Nadal
Nadal’s level has just slightly dropped at the beginning of the third set with a couple more errors. Djokovic reached 30-30 on Nadal’s serve, had a decent opportunity and then missed the break point.
Nadal did not allow him another chance. A 40-30, the number one hit a great backhand return deep down the middle, to which Nadal responded by crouching down and redirecting it for a backhand winner.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 2-1* Rafael Nadal
Djokovic saves a break point to secure a third consecutive hold. However, that was very close. After missing a forehand to fall down break point at 30-40, Djokovic missed a first serve and was there for the taking but Nadal sent a backhand just long.
Djokovic changed things up at deuce with a good serve and volley, quickly closing off the hold.
Updated
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 *1-1 Rafael Nadal
Nadal levels Djokovic with a very good service game to keep the number one at bay. Djokovic actually started that game looking to raise his intensity, grunting loudly, frantically moving his feet. He had Nadal on the ropes at 0-15, but the Spaniard flipped the point from defence with ease and ended it by crushing an inside out forehand. That point alone seemed to blunt Djokovic’s intensity and there were few problems onwards as he found a big serve at 40-30, forcing a return error from Djokovic.
Djokovic has been so composed today. He was like this against Tsitsipas and afterwards he said it was because he felt in control of the match.
Well, now that he is being dismantled in a slam final and he has no control over the match, it would probably help to fire himself up.
Third set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-6 1-0* Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic eases through a quick hold to 15, closed off with a solid overhead after a big forehand. That’s his second consecutive hold, which is as much momentum as he has had today.
Updated
Second set stats
Novak Djokovic - 14 winners, 17 unforced errors
Rafael Nadal - 11 winners, 4 unforced errors
Nadal has hit 6 errors in two sets. In a slam final.
Rafael Nadal moves up 6-0 6-2 on Novak Djokovic
Nadal immediately bounces back with a hold of serve to take an astounding two set lead. At 30-0 he pulled out another absurd forehand down-the-line winner at 30-0, which are just flying freely off his racquet now.
Djokovic dragged Nadal back to 40-30, then he dumped a weak backhand return on the third set point. This scoreline is hard to believe.
Updated
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 2-5* Rafael Nadal
90 minutes into the match, Novak Djokovic achieves his second game with a quick hold to 15. Nadal will serve for a 2-0 sets lead.
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 *1-5 Rafael Nadal
Nadal casually eases through a love hold to win his 11th game of 12. He closed it off with consecutive wicked forehand down the line winners.
The bizarre thing about this match is that plenty of the games have been tight and it is hard not to feel like Djokovic is a couple of points away from finding his feet as usual. But look at the scoreline - this is a beatdown so far.
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 1-4* Rafael Nadal
Nadal breaks Djokovic for a fifth time to move up a double break in set two. After a winning drop shot to level Nadal at 30-30, Djokovic threw in his third double fault of the match. He saved it with an ace.
What followed was an astonishing point at deuce in which Djokovic retrieved a hard Nadal overhead, flipped the point on its head and then attempted a drop shot. Nadal chased it down and slipped a lovely angled backhand past him. With a Djokovic unforced error on break point, Nadal won his 10th game of 11 today. Hard to believe.
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 *1-3 Rafael Nadal
Nadal moves on with a good hold from deuce. Djokovic’s backhand has been losing so many of the essential rallies in the ad court, but from 40-15 he produced two excellent crosscourt backhands to eventually reach deuce.
How did Nadal respond? He found a first serve and crushed an inside-out forehand winner. At game point, Djokovic missed a routine forehand to meekly hand over the game.
This intensity and level from Nadal with so few unforced errors is astounding. And so is Djokovic’s poor performance so far.
Updated
Unforced error watch:
Novak Djokovic - 21
Rafael Nadal - 3
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 1-2* Rafael Nadal
Nadal breaks for a fourth time today to move up a set and a break on Djokovic. Djokovic fell down 0-30 after two brutal winners from Nadal, but he found his first serve and recovered well for 30-30.
However, Djokovic continues to live dangerously with that forehand. He sent a forehand long at 30-30 to hand over a break point, then he saved it by clipping the line on a wicked point-ending crosscourt forehand. At deuce he made another forehand error.
Djokovic saved the second break point with a big serve and backhand 1-2 punch, but Nadal generated a third and Djokovic finally paid for his erratic forehand, dumping a routine attempt into the net.
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 *1-1 Rafael Nadal
Dangerous times for Nadal as Djokovic looks for some momentum early in the second set but he came out of it well, recovering from 15-30 down to hold. At 30-30, he came through a bruising, long point, eventually forcing a backhand error from Djokovic with a wicked crosscourt forehand. He eventually closed it off to 30 with an unreturned lefty serve out wide.
Updated
First set stats:
Novak Djokovic - 42% first serves in, 27% points won on first serve, 67% points won on second serve, 36% receiving points won, 0/3 break points won, 11 winners, 13 unforced errors.
Rafael Nadal - 76% first serves in, 63% first serve points won, 67% second serve points won, 62% receiving points won, 3/6 break points won, 10 winners, 2 unforced errors.
2 (two) unforced errors.
Second set: Novak Djokovic 0-6 1-0* Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic finally gets onto the board 55 minutes after his first serve. It took a lot of work and three break points saved. After falling down 15-40, Djokovic just started to unleash on his forehand and he saved the break points well. He found a quick serve-forehand 1-2 punch on the first, then finished the second with a couple more blazing forehands.
At deuce, he missed one forehand to fall down break point, then crushed two point ending forehands in a row to move up game point. Eventually he found enough first serves to escape.
Updated
This is the most frequent match-up in the history of men’s tennis in the Open Era. It would have been fair to assume that we have seen it all. No, we have not seen Rafael Nadal drop a first set bagel on Novak Djokovic, who had arrived in the final 37-0 in matches that did not involve him accidentally striking a line umpire with a ball.
Rafael Nadal takes the first set 6-0
Nadal seals his startling start with a quick hold to 15, sealed with an ace. A bagel!
Updated
First set: Novak Djokovic 0-5* Rafael Nadal
Astonishing. Rafael Nadal breaks the world number one to lead 5-0 and he will serve for a bagel. Djokovic eased to a 40-0 lead, then threw in a second double fault. The second game point was scuppered by a heavy, deep forehand from Nadal that forced a backhand error. On the third game point, Djokovic netted a forehand after a bad bounce.
Nadal eventually created a break point with a deft backhand passing shot, which Djokovic saved with a searing forehand cross-court. Djokovic saved a second break point with a great dropshot, the commitment to which you can only admire. But on the third, Nadal came up with a huge crosscourt backhand to break.
All but one game has gone to deuce so far today, but their level on the big points is like night and day.
Updated
First set: Novak Djokovic *0-4 Rafael Nadal
Nadal saves three break points to survive a tough hold and extend his lead. A very solid game from Djokovic with some great defensive work against a really aggressive Nadal, which included a lovely backhand lob at 15-0, a great counter drop shot at 30-15 and then a sweet backhand passing shot at deuce.
This game also included first piece of utter madness as Nadal chased down a drop shot, then flipped the point with an absurd angled inside out forehand. He had the whole court to finish the point with, but dumped the final forehand into the net.
What was most impressive was how Nadal dealt with the three break points, each time finding a first serve and attacking at the first opportunity. He is playing so well right now. Djokovic should take some heart from that game.
Updated
Novak Djokovic’s serve stats:
First serves in: 4/14 (29%)
First serves won: 0/4 (0%)
Double faults: 1 (at 15-30)
Nobody has any chance in the world against Rafael Nadal with stats like that. One suspects they will soon change.
First set: Novak Djokovic 0-3* Rafael Nadal
Nadal breaks to lead by a double break in 20 minutes. At 15-0, Nadal demolished a forehand down-the-line in a neutral rally, completely surprising Djokovic. At 15-15, he followed it up by bullying Djokovic with a backhand crosscourt, eventually forcing an error with his finishing forehand down the line. Djokovic then double faulted at 15-30.
How did Djokovic save the first break point? With a winning drop shot, of course. On the second break point, Djokovic netted an aggressive backhand crosscourt.
This has been such an alert and intense start from Nadal, while Djokovic isn’t yet present.
First set: Novak Djokovic *0-2 Rafael Nadal
Nadal consolidates the break with a tight deuce hold and he looks so alert here at the beginning. Nadal moved to 40-15, but Djokovic saved the first by unloading on a searing backhand crosscourt winner and then producing an insane defensive lob at full stretch, forcing a Nadal error from a pretty impossible smash. However, he meekly handed over the rest of the game. At deuce, Djokovic badly missed another dropshot before sending a backhand long in an intense rally.
Regarding the four drop shots in Djokovic’s service game, he was clearly also trying to send Nadal a message about his court positioning and how much he intends to vary his shot choices today. That could potentially bear fruit later on but it isn’t so far.
Updated
First set: Novak Djokovic 0-1* Rafael Nadal
A completely audacious start from Djokovic, who opened his game with four dropshots. It didn’t work out though as he lost his serve from 40-15. At 15-15, Nadal reached the first one but steered his backhand response wide. On the second, Djokovic pulled up a nifty lob, eventually ending the point with a big crosscourt forehand.
However, at 40-15 he sent his third backhand dropshot into the net. After a booming Nadal backhand winner to scupper the second game point, he tried a forehand drop shot at deuce. Nadal eventually chased both dropshot and lob before winning the next two points to take the game.
The warm-up is over and Novak Djokovic is on the baseline to serve. This will be tough, this will be impressive and it may be very long. Here we go.
Updated
Last looks...#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/77LwZsSxYk
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 11, 2020
Novak Djokovic won the coin toss and elected to serve.
Most Roland Garros match wins of all time:
1. Rafael Nadal - 99-2
2. Novak Djokovic - 74-14
Roland Garros titles
Rafael Nadal - 12
Novak Djokovic - 1
Djokovic and Nadal are in the hallway and preparing to enter the court. This is happening.
Q. You said on court that playing Rafa at Roland Garros is the biggest challenge in sport. Can you explain why? What do you have to do to defeat him on Sunday?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, isn’t it obvious? He won this tournament so many times that I don’t think any player has won that many times any tournament. He’s lost twice in his entire career on this court. Obviously the conditions are different than the ones that we are used to playing in May and June. I think that could be a better chance for me, obviously the ball not bouncing as high over the shoulder as he likes it usually.
Yeah, I mean, look, regardless of the conditions, he’s still there, he’s Rafa, he’s in the finals and we’re playing on clay. Best-of-five playing him in the finals at Roland Garros, I know that feeling. I did lose to him on this court most of the matches that we played, but I also won one match in 2015 in straight sets in quarters. That’s the match that I’ll look back at and obviously try to take some positives out of it and use it tactically against him.
I’m not feeling exhausted physically so much after tonight’s match, obviously almost four hours. It was a great battle. But I feel fine. I think a day and a half will be plenty of time for me to recover. I’m really looking forward to a great battle with Rafa.
Q. He’s going for his 20th slam title. You’re going for your 18th. People are saying maybe this is the biggest match you’ve ever played. Do you feel there’s maybe more at stake this time?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Finals of Grand Slam is always huge. This is what you work for all year long, every season hoping that you can put yourself in a position to fight for Grand Slam trophies. But I don’t think it’s the biggest match that I have ever played in my life. I think there were some bigger ones.
In terms of importance, I mean, if I have to compare, even though I don’t like, but probably the first Wimbledon finals that I actually played against him. Wimbledon was always the one that I wanted to win as a kid and dreamed of winning. That’s probably the one that stands out. French Open 2016 against Andy Murray here. Every French Open final that I played was the match of my life before I actually won it.
Yeah, I mean, it does have a certain I would say significance and difference when I play French Open finals to any other slam final. This is the one that I won the least, so of course I am extremely motivated to try to get my hands on another trophy.
Q. What’s happened in the past between you two at Roland Garros, does that mean anything, the fact that he was only one of two players to defeat you here, yet you’ve beaten him I think every time you played in a final here? What’s happened in the past? Does that have any bearing on what comes up on Sunday?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t think so. Different circumstances, different kind of tournament and different situation, no? I don’t know. I will let you know on Sunday. I can’t predict the future, no? The only thing I know is to play against Novak, I need to play my best. Without playing my best tennis, situation is very difficult.
I know that is a court that I have been playing well for such a long time, so that helps. But at the same time he has an amazing record here, too, being in the final rounds almost every single time. Is one of the toughest opponents possible. But I am here to keep trying my best. I like to play in this scenario.
I know I have to make a step forward. I think I did one today. But for Sunday is not enough. I need to make another one. That’s what I’m looking for. I going to work hard to try to make that happen.
Novak Djokovic after his indoor fourth round match against Karen Khachanov: “If you play later in the day with the roof closed, there’s literally no bounce at all.”
In that match, it was actually an issue for Djokovic as the ball fell easily into the tall Khachanov’s hit zone. Here, as noted, that is an advantage for him as he clearly favours indoor conditions more than Nadal.
It is raining in Paris and the roof is closing. Novak Djokovic will like this very much.
Iga and Paris. A ❤️ story.@iga_swiatek #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/1JmpybvzsA
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 11, 2020
The Djokovic-Nadal head-to-head:
29-26 overall
6-9 in Grand Slams
4-4 Grand Slam finals
1-6 at Roland Garros
7-17 on clay
Djokovic has won 10 of the past 13 matches against Nadal, a sequence that finally moved into the lead in their head-to-head after trailing since the beginning. This is their first meeting at Roland Garros since Djokovic beat Nadal in straight sets in their 2015 quarter-final. Nadal won all other matches in this tournament.
A tie will definitely be broken today:
Most slam titles won by a player over 30 years old:
Novak Djokovic - 5
Rafael Nadal - 5
The match-up:
- There are no tactical secrets here. Novak Djokovic’s edge in this match-up stems from his ability to handle Nadal’s high, heavy topspin forehand by taking his backhand early and also daringly attacking the Nadal forehand from the ad court. It is so difficult to maintain the required intensity needed to handle Nadal’s forehand over 5 sets on clay, as Djokovic has found out many times. If you attack the Nadal forehand with insufficient pace or depth, you are dead. On that note, Djokovic’s backhand down-the-line has been slightly below its lofty standards in Paris. He will have to step up.
- Nadal will take heart from how he began to feel his forehand down-the-line as his semi-final against Diego Schwartzman wore on, a shot that has long been the barometer in his game and particularly in the final years of his career his forehand is now often the shot that breaks down first when he is not playing his best tennis.
- As has been discussed countless times over the past two weeks, the conditions are the big difference between past meetings and they clearly do favour Djokovic. The colder weather and lower bouncing balls mean that Nadal’s wicked, heavy topspin forehands bounce lower and should be easier for a right hander’s backhand to handle. But in the semi-final, Nadal still forced Schwartzman to hit so many jumping backhands above head height. We should be careful of overstating the effect of the conditions on a man who is 99-2 at this event.
- Both players have taken advantage of the conditions to use drop shots throughout the week, but Djokovic has been working on them since the beginning of the year and his drop shot attempts have been incessant in Paris. With Nadal’s deep court positioning, this is where he will hope to both get into Nadal’s head and force him to expend more energy with his sprints up the court.
The stakes are clear:
Grand Slam leaderboard:
Roger Federer - 20
Rafael Nadal - 19
Novak Djokovic - 17
Pete Sampras - 14
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to our coverage on day 15 of Roland Garros. It is a very important day as the final preparations for the biggest occasion of the year are underway. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will face each other in their record-extending 56th meeting with so much tennis history on the line.
After breezing into the quarter-final without dropping a set, Djokovic has since encountered plenty of trouble en route to the final. In that quarter-final, he entered the court against Pablo Carreno Busta with a neck/shoulder complaint and lost the first set before recovering to win in four. Against Stefanos Tsitsipas, he rolled to a 6-3 6-2 *5-4 and held one match before the lead crumbled and a valiant Tsitsipas took control. Djokovic lost the third and fourth sets before recovering to win 6-1 in the fifth.
Despite those blips, Djokovic has been extremely impressive and what feels more notable than those sets lost is that he has played at the highest level so far. He was supreme in his semi-final until the lengthy detour. Djokovic is now 37-1 this year and the only thing that has stopped him was his default from the US Open fourth round after he accidentally struck a lineswoman in the throat with a ball. Other than that, no soul has won a match point against him in singles this year. He could not be better prepared for a Roland Garros final against 12 time champion Rafael Nadal.
Across the net, Nadal has been impressive in different ways. A few weeks ago, his loss in the quarter-final of Rome to Diego Schwartzman made it clear that he was in a race against the clock to acquire the necessary match fitness to mount a title run. So far, he is doing a stellar job. After also easing into the quarter-finals, he overcame a tough first set against Jannik Sinner and a rematch against Schwartzman to reach the final and he still has not dropped a set.
Despite that, it still feels like he is working things out in his game. Like Djokovic, he also had trouble closing out Schwartzman but he should take heart from how well he recovered in the third set tiebreak to smite Schwartman and march on. Now he will look to take another step forward against his greatest rival.
The big question to be answered is whether not being tested will actually come back to hurt Nadal when the best player in the world puts every aspect of his game under pressure. This match will be so physical, it will likely be long and it will be extremely difficult for all involved. Bring it on.
Updated
