By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, June 11, 2021
Novak Djokovic dethroned 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a pulsating Roland Garros semifinal that was a match for the ages.
Photo credit: @RolandGarros
Electric rivalry and ridiculous rallies collided creating a perfect Roland Garros storm.
Novak Djokovic calmed the chaos with a courageous and career-defining performance.
Storming through six straight games, a defiant Djokovic dethroned 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a heart-racing French Open semifinal that escalated into a match for the ages.
Mission impossible will go down as one of the grittiest Grand Slam performances of Djokovic's career.
Last fall, Djokovic suffered a brutal and bruising straight sets thrashing to Nadal in a lopsided French Open final that put the king of clay on equal terms with Big 3 rival Roger Federer as Grand Slam kings.
Tonight, Djokovic stood toe-to-toe with tennis' fiercest fighter, absorbed body blows—including a couple of times when Nadal drilled passing shots directly into the Serbian's rib cage—belted some big backhand returns and knocked the champion out with a stinging serve at closing time.
"Definitely the best match that I was part of ever in Roland Garros for me," Djokovic said. "And top three matches that I ever played in my entire career, considering quality of tennis, playing my biggest rival on the court where he has had so much success and has been the dominant force in the last 15- plus years, and the atmosphere which was completely electric. For both players, a lot of support. Just amazing."
Taking his shot at history on the rise, the world No. 1 became the first man to beat Nadal twice at Roland Garros prevailing in a pulsating four hour, 11-minute epic that ended after 11 p.m. Nadal committed 55 unforced errors to Djokovic's 37 and credited his rival for playing cleaner tennis, conceding conditions pilfered some sting and height from his topspin.
"During the night the situation goes a little bit the other way, no? So bounce a little bit less," Nadal said after his first French Open loss since bowing to Djokovic in the 2015 quarterfinals. "The ball gets less topspin. That's more favorable for him, the conditions.
"By the way, doesn't matter. That's tennis. The player who get used to the conditions better is the player who deserve to win. So no doubt he deserved to win."
Episode 58 of the most prolific rivalry in ATP history ended with a surging Djokovic now holding a 30-28 lead in this riveting rivalry, though Nadal still maintains a 10-7 advantage in their Grand Slam encounters.
Driving his backhand return with authority and serving sharply down the stretch, Djokovic advanced to to his sixth French Open final where he will face fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the title match rematch of last month's Rome semifinal won by the Serbian.
This blockbuster rematch of the 2020 French Open final exceeded the hype. It popped with pulsasting rallies, nervy patches, punishing physical exchanges, major momentum and mood swings. Given the major history at stake you expected intensity from both men, but their ability to continuously push, probe and pummel each other at the baseline and net was riveting to watch as great theater, complete with chanting crowd and phenomenal tennis.
It began as the worst of times for Djokovic—Nadal rolled through five straight games to open—and ended as the best of times as the Serbian streaked through six straight games, including 24 of the last 30 points, for commanding closure.
A focused Djokovic snapped Nadal's 35-match Roland Garros winning streak, shattered the Spaniard's combined 26-0 record in French Open semifinals and finals and denied the king of clay's quest to capture a men's record 21st Grand Slam title on the court he has dominated.
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Nadal fought fiercely, but cited two crucial mistakes: a missed set point chance in the third set and a rare bricked volley in the tie breaker as keys that cost him his crown as his Roland Garros record now stands at an astounding 105-3 with Djokovic and Sweden's Robin Soderling the only men to beat him in Paris.
"That's sport, you know. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose," Nadal said. "I tried to give my best. Probably was not my best day out there. Even if I fighted, that I putted a lot of effort, I mean, the position on the shots haven't been that effective tonight.
"Against a player like him that takes the ball early, you are not able to take him out of his positions, then is very difficult, no? Even like this, I had the big chance with set point, 6-5, second serve. That's it. Anything could happen in that moment. Then I make a double-fault, easy volley in the tiebreak."
The top-seeded Serbian has now scaled this major mountain twice and is within one victory of joining legendary Hall of Famer Rod Laver as just the second man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles twice.
Further, if Djokovic replicates his Rome semifinal win over Tsitsipas and takes the title, it will be his 19th Grand Slam crown, closing the gap on Nadal and Roger Federer and put the Serbian halfway to a single-season Grand Slam.
All this from a man who was swept by a ruthless Nadal in a gut-wrenching 2020 French Open final last fall. The beauty of Djokovic's championship character is every time he falls—be it his 2020 US Open default for striking a lineswoman with a stray ball or the thrashing he absorbed at Nadal's hands in last year's final—he summons the resilience to rise again and again.
Hurling uppercut forehands crosscourt, Nadal cornered Djokovic into his backhand side drawing an error for double break point. Trying to change direction down the line, Djokovic slapped a forehand into net falling into a double-break hole as Nadal eventually extended it to 5-0.
Serving for the set again, Nadal flicked a lob for triple set point, but Djokovic dug in and fought off all three set points—by then he'd saved six set points in all—only to see Nadal curl a tremendous running forehand down the line to seal a one-set lead after an hour of play. Eleven of Nadal's 15 winners in the opening set came from his fierce forehand.
The world No. 1 skidded around the baseline at times, but put his foot down to start the second set breaking for the second time in three service games for a 2-0 lead. Grunting loudly, Nadal torched a forehand down the line breaking back at love.
Midway through the set, Djokovic altered return position standing almost directly in the doubles alley. Awaiting the wide serve to his backhand the Serbian slashed his two-handed return crosscourt. Djokovic banged out his second break of the set for a 4-2 lead.
In a stirring 10-minute stand, the 34-year-old Serbian saved three break points hitting heavy drives in holding for 5-2.
An inability to finish on an overhead cost Djokovic again as Nadal leaned low to flick an amazing acute-angled backhand pass that prompted an eruption from the crowd, while Djokovic exhaled.
Striking with conviction, Djokovic lashed an 85 mph forehand down the line to save a break point. Playing with clarity at crunch time, Djokovic saved five of six break points in the second set to level the match.
Five games into the third set, Nadal blinked.
Bungling a smash off the bottom of the frame, Nadal looked jittery confronting double break point. The Spaniard saved both, slamming an ace down the middle on the second, but nudged a drop shot into net as Djokovic delivered on his fifth break point of the set for 3-2.
A fired-up Nadal took out his frustration on the ball, crushing a backhand return from 12 feet behind the baseline and it blurred by the Serbian on a serve-and-volley. Nadal who had been blistering passes into the body caught the top of the tape, the ball ricocheted and rattled Djokovic's Head racquet for double break point.
In a pulsating point that spanned 23 shots both men pushed each other into obscure areas of the dirt with Djokovic repelling a would-be winner from Nadal then driving a diagonal forehand winner ending a wild point.
Djokvic whirled his arms in the air and fans responded chanting "Novak! Novak!" as he drew even at deuce. It was the type of emotional point that could have buckled the knees of another player, but we know Nadal is not just another player.
Digging in, the third seed stormed back, hooking a forehand down the line to break back in the sixth game, inciting another eruption from fans.
Hit with a time violation warning during his ball bouncing on a break point, Djokovic withstood the stress test as he banged a clean backhand down the line and held for 5-3 when Nadal's forehand strayed wide.
Serving for the set at 30-all, Djokovic tried testing Nadal's forehand, but didn't hit his two-hander deep enough and the Spaniard scorched a forehand drive down the line for break point. A flurry of forehands broke down the Serbian's backhand for the error and Nadal punctuated the break back with a "Vamos!".
In a mind-blowing exchange two champions took tennis to CGI special effect levels as Djokovic caught up to net-cord shot near the net post and replied with a dizzying angle. Nadal went around the net post with his reply only to see Djokovic hurl a lob that landed off the baseline for break point. Nadal hammered a forehand strike down the line to save it then zapped his sixth ace holding for 6-5, screaming "come on!" and pounding his palm off his chest like a man delivering his own defibrillator shock to jolt himself back to life.
That dramatic turnaround and electric emotion had fans chanting Rafa! Rafa! and left a reeling Djokovic looking vacant on his court-side seat.
Remember how a dropper-happy Djokovic overplayed the drop shot into oblivion suffering a shut-out set in the 2020 final?
Confronting set point in the 12th game tonight, Djokovic showed major guts pulling off the backhand drop shot to draw even at deuce. Hurling himself into a forehand drive volley, Djokovic closed an intense hold to force the third-set tie breaker.
In one of the wildest rallies of the match, Djokovic raced to retrieve a short ball, pivoted and raced back to the baseline to flick a defensive backhand back into play. Nadal was all over it but botched a routine forehand volley long clutching his head with his hands in falling behind 3-5 in the breaker.
The top seedD smacked and ace down the middle for double set point. Reading the Nadal dropper, Djokovic burst to the ball quickly and shoveled a forehand down the line ending an electric set as fans stood and gave both men an extended ovation.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion who has commanded Court Philippe Chatrier as if it were his own backyard found himself down two sets to one for just the third time in 108 career French Open matches.
Returning to court ready to escalate this fight deep into the night, Nadal crunched a crosscourt forehand behind his opponent, breaking to start the fourth set.
Resetting after that emotional third set, Djokovic stung three aces in successive love holds and was moving the ball masterfully corner to corner as he tore through 12 of 13 points transforming a love-2 deficit to a 3-2 lead. Summoning his serve sparked his surge.
"I found my serve I thought when I was a break down in the fourth," Djokovic said. "Didn't start well. Generally the serve wasn't a big weapon for me tonight I think. I hoped that I could get a little bit more free points or at least an easier first shot of the first serve.
"I wasn't getting it till the fourth set. When I was Love-2 down, something clicked and I started to serve really well. I won six games in a row. I think it's thanks also to the quality of serving, which gave me a lot of free points."
Targeting his rival's two-hander, Djokovic drew a shanked reply for a break point in the sixth game. For 13 Roland Garros championships, Nadal has slide the wide serve on the ad side to set up his first strike, so you can't fault him for summoning his favorite fail-safe play again.
Expecting the wide serve, Djokovic thumped his two-hander on the rise rapping a return down the middle to break again. His fourth straight game put the top seed up 4-2.
An impressive aspect of this performance was just how fluidly Djokovic combined intensity and clarity at crunch time. Shrewd court sense made it appear Djokovic was reading his rival's mind during his stretch drive. Pulling the string on an exquisite drop shot, Djokovic held at 30 for 5-2.
In the end, Djokovic's willingness to straddle the baseline at crunch time, take the ball on the rise and try to dictate the direction of rallies against the greatest clay-court champion the sport has ever seen was bold, beautiful and effective. Djokovic slashed 50 winners, two more than Nadal, and converted eight of 22 break points as his return grew sharper as the night grew longer and the clock crept past 11 p.m. in Paris.
One final Nadal error ended a match for the ages and if you're like me it left you buzzed and breathless hoping these two square off again at Wimbledon where Djokovic is reigning champion.
Physical and emotional recovery from pulling off the improbable presents another challenge for Djokovic. How do you even sleep after pouring yourself into a four-hour fight or come down from the adrenaline rush of conquering the king of clay in a stirring rush? Djokovic wasn't sure himself.
These are the pure moments of magic and pure elation that make the game come alive for its champions and fans alike.
"I'm not the freshest guy right now obviously," Djokovic said. "But good thing is that I have a day and a half to rejuvenate and try to regroup, you know, think about my next opponent.
"Obviously I'll enjoy this victory a little bit. Don't have much time, but... I think I deserve after this big win to just relax a little bit without thinking about the next opponent, even though it's a finals of a Grand Slam.
"I have time to think about him tomorrow, tomorrow the second part of the day. Right now it's all about resting and hopefully being able to be fit to compete in the best-of-five with a guy who is in a great shape."