NADAL/FEDERER LOCK ON WIMBLEDON BROKEN AS DJOKOVIC TAKES THE TITLE
“But I had this dream about a place called Wimbledon. And hoped. The [NATO] planes usually bombed at the same times, and we went to cellars then. But it was still scary. I was lucky that my parents got enough money together to send me away, to a tennis academy in Germany.” He was homesick, so returned to Serbia as often as possible.
The rest was determination and doubly hard work through difficult times for the boy from Belgrade, who made the dream make sense. His steaming attacks from the baseline forced the great Rafael Nadal to struggle to stay in points. Usually he didn’t, losing his bid for a third Wimbledon crown, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, in 2:28.
Djokovic was just as swift as the favored title-holding Spaniard, and he was banging line drives all over the famed Centre Court lawn whenever he got to the ball. Forehands and double-barrelled backhands. It was too often for Nadal, Rafa retrieved at times sensationally, but the Serb’s heavy hitting crowded him to play short, open to more flat thunder.
“Yes, I didn’t play long enough. Didn’t make the big, important points,” said a gracious but clearly down Nadal. “No, I’m not happy with my Wimbledon. I lost my title and No. 1.”
He pointed out that Djokovic is hardly a secret. “He’s in my head. He knows it, I know it, you know it. Everybody knows it. Five times he’s beaten me this year [the finals of the Italian Open, Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Madrid and here]. I’ve got to rest my mind and body, and find a solution.
“I’m used to being the first. But now I’m second, and Djokovic is first. Got to go back to work. Harder.” Nobody works harder than Rafa. But how many athletes would talk openly about a prime rival, who is “in my head”? Very rare.
Nadal didn’t even see a friendly break point until the second game of the third set. That stoked the boisterous 14,979 in the seats, mainly Rafa people. They had hope for a five set climax with Rafa securing his 11th major, and got louder when he won the third set.
As customary, a military band, The Central Band of the Royal British Legion, serenaded the crowd prior to the match. But the music really stopped for Nadal in the opening game of the fourth. He had a break point that might have been a comeback foundation. But Djokovic saved it with a stunning smash of a lofty lob.
Was Djokovic choking a bit in losing the third set? “No, I just let myself relax, but I got back on focus soon enough,” So he did. It was soon over as Nadal’s forehand collapsed in the second game of the fourth.
“Every athlete dreams of being No. 1. When you do it at last, and you know you’re the best, it’s just an amazing achievement. But it was a little bit frustrating. When you get to the final stages of a tournament you run into Nadal and Federer. They were winning everything. They always came up with their best tennis when it matters the most. But it’s a process of learning. Developing and improving as a player and person, just finding the way to mentally overcome those pressures and expectations.
“I always believed I had the quality to beat those guys, win majors [he has three now, two Australians to go with Wimbledon]. After the first Australian Open, the first major in 2008, I was 21 and started getting pressures to do better, expectations that I’d never faced. I would lie to you if I didn’t have doubts. I did have difficult crisis times where I didn’t know if I could make it, you know, because the first two guys were so dominant.”
“My mother told a reporter that Serbia winning the Davis Cup [he won two singles] taught me how to play without fear. She knows me better than myself. I lost my fears. I believed in my abilities more than ever.”
Because of the Balkan wars, Serbia hasn’t been one of the more popular countries. But the tennis success may offer some PR help.
Novak says, “There wasn’t much interest in tennis, but we’re changing that.” Serbia’s president, Bors Tadic, was clapping proudly in the front row. Djokovic could probably have that job if he were interested.
Suddenly quick changes in tennis. Not long ago people were boosting Roger Federer as the greatest player of all time. But he couldn’t beat Nadal. Then Nadal ascended and he can’t beat Djokovic. Who is next? Should be a colossal US Open.
Then Novak, who never cared for grass courts, cut through Centre Court like a Japanese beetle. When he had won, he felt he should come down to earth and eat a celebratory snack – a handful of Wimbledon grass. “I felt like an animal. I wanted to see how it tastes. It tastes good, well kept,” said the young man in his salad days.
Tags: Men's 2011 Final, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon
July 04 2011 03:25 am | Wimbledon
Charlie on 04 Jul 2011 at 11:59 am #
I’m glad you mentioned that volley to match point. If anything that was the crystallization or best example of his confidence and reign. Rafa perhaps a fraction tight and Novak relaxed and lifting his game. Maybe it was the semis of the Australian when he beat Fed and played as if he had nothing to lose. I think he even said after the match he closed his eyes and hit shots as hard as he could. More power to him. A worthy champion and upsets the tennis apple cart for the better. 3 champions battling for the US open
craig on 04 Jul 2011 at 2:25 pm #
Hats off to Novak. After 4 years at number 3, many, if not most, thought he didn’t have it in him to win a major other than the Australian. He may have been more known as an amusing impressionist of other tennis stars as posted on YouTube.
After losing the third set at 1-6, many may have thought he might be going down again. But he showed amazing shot making and retrieval throughout most of the match leaving Rafa somewhat befuddled.
One question I had is whether Nadal’s foot was bothering him some ?
bk on 04 Jul 2011 at 10:28 pm #
the djoker has gone from court jester to king – at least for now. I know it’s not politically correct – maybe billie jean king will whine – but the men’s game is vastly superior to the grunt-a-thon women’s game right now. Just as in the 1960s, you have 3 all-time great players competing for the majors presently in the men’s game. When I say “all time great,” I am not saying that djokovic has the same resume as nadal or federer, but he’s playing like a top-10 player (maybe even a top-5 player) all-time right now and is still young and poised to be dominant for several more years – barring something unforeseen. This is a golden era in men’s tennis and it’s just too bad its not heralded enough (gender politics explains a lot of that).
antony on 05 Jul 2011 at 11:27 am #
Thanks Bud for the W coverage
1. Yes Djokovic was superb and could be No 1 for a while but what happens next?
2. Djokovic seemed to do a Nadal on Nadal! It’s going to be fascinating to see if Rafa can respond. Will he have more fight left in him than Borg at the same age? I hope so.
3. Will Del Potro who is on the way back become a big force? And how will the Djoker deal with him?
4. Yes, top men’s tennis continues to grip. The only problem with the ladies has been the constant injuries that have stopped the rivalries.
Best wishes Antony
Morgan on 17 Aug 2011 at 3:17 pm #
What Djokovic has done – and is continuing to so this year – is astounding on its own and falls outside the comparisons to Nadal and Federer.
What happens next? So far he keeps on winning.