Djokovic gets up and running unfussily but then clumps a cross-court into the net. They’ve both looked like men in early middle age at times today, albeit geniuses at that stage of life. Anyway, here’s a Djokovic ace. Banger. Two points away. He goes needlessly wide next up after a second serve but Nadal can’t make the most of another. It’s match point. Ace out to the backhand side. Dominant, authoritative, as Djokovic was for the first hour of this match. Then he let his level slip and Nadal located some of the old magic. He deserved that, indeed this rivalry deserved that. But Djokovic regrouped and the top seed is through in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic 6-1 5-4 Rafael Nadal*
Djokovic threads a sumptuous backhand to win the first point of the match and rank forehand error now has Nadal in trouble at 0-30. Not a bad time for your first ace of the match, then! But now he’s wide, another poor error and Djokovic has two break points, the first of which he passes up by putting the return long. Now the all-time king of Roland-Garros serve-volleys to save the second. Behave yourself. It’s an error-strewn game, in all fairness and Djokovic is gifted another opening. Second serve, but Nadal finds a find, looping backhand to the back of the court and Djokovic nets. Oh, that’s a gorgeous bank hand from Djokovic, clipping the line. Nadal keeps the point alive but not for long. Advantage Novak. He gets it done with a fabulous drop shot! Djokovic will serve for the match, perhaps his last match against Nadal.
*Novak Djokovic 6-1 4-4 Rafael Nadal
Nadal batters a forehand down the line, clips the baseline. Woof! The umpire tells the crowd to cool it. All the best with that. Djokovic regroups with a textbook smash, only for Nadal to produce a drop shot from the gods and Novak nets. 15-30. A fizzing forehand droves Djokovic deep, he goes long! Two break points for Nadal. Brilliant serve, unreturnable. Djokovic needed that. His latest serve is wildly wide, though. Rafa climbs into the second. Djokovic takes control of the rally, but Nadal gets him scrambling at the net and dispatches the point. We’re back on serve at Phillipe-Chatrier.
Novak Djokovic 6-1 4-3 Rafael Nadal*
Crunching forehand that Djokovic can only pat into the bottom of the net. Nadal gets to 30-0. He isn’t planning on going quietly. He misjudges at the back of the court, though, and Djokovic creams a winner. Nadal is ripping his forehands now, though. A smash gets him to 40-15 and that’s three games is a row! Surely not…
*Novak Djokovic 6-1 4-2 Rafael Nadal
The Djokovic backhand has been a brutal weapon today but he puts too much on that at the end of a fine rally. Now a misjudged drop shot and Nadal has a slither of an opening at 15-30, only to go long on the forehand. He changes up the angles nicely here, though and Djokovic hacks one wide. Break point to Nadal. And it’s a double fault from Djokovic! Nadal has one of the two breaks back and it was a bit of a gift all told. Can he hold next up?
Novak Djokovic 6-1 4-1 Rafael Nadal*
Well, well. A fairly unproblematic hold for Nadal. The key point comes at 30-15, with Djokovic unable to take care of business at the net. Probably just momentary respite but the Spanish flags flutter in the stands.
*Novak Djokovic 6-1 4-0 Rafael Nadal
Every Nadal point is getting roar from the punters. Another crumb from the table in that regard as Djokovic holds to 15.