March 30, 2014: Novak Djokovic tames Rafael Nadal's forehand in Miami final
Following that mind-blowing run in 2011 and another good season after that, Novak Djokovic had lost the supremacy over the rest of the Tour when Rafael Nadal bounced back, winning ten ATP titles and finishing as the year-end no. 1 player. Despite a somewhat slow start of 2014 season, Djokovic was back at the top of men's tennis and it all started with his second 'Sunshine Double' at Indian Wells and Miami where he competed on a high level to leave the closest rivals behind and reduce the deficit to Rafael Nadal before the start of the clay season.
At Indian Wells, Novak toppled Roger Federer in the deciding tie break in the final and had a much easier job in Miami, playing only four matches (two walkovers) and taking all eight sets to lift the fourth title in Florida. Like many times before, Djokovic and Nadal had met in the title match although the tournament had found the place in the record books when none of the semi-final clashes were played, with Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori giving walkovers to Novak and Rafa, setting their 40th meeting on the Tour.
Two great rivals had met for the fourth time in the finals since the last summer and Novak scored the third straight win, beating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 24 minutes for the 18th triumph over Rafa and the 43rd ATP title, the 18th on Masters 1000 level to pass Andre Agassi who stayed on 17. This was the seventh win for the Serb in the last nine matches on hard courts against Rafa, earning it after hitting more winners and fewer unforced errors, controlling the pace with a sharp display on both serve and return to leave the great rival behind.
Nadal was powerless against the sheer power of Novak's shots, falling behind in the shortest, mid-range and most extended rallies to finish runner-up for the fourth time in Miami in the last nine years. Both players served at 71% but Novak was the one who drew the most from that, losing 11 points on serve and saving the only break point he faced to mount the pressure on the other side of the court. Nadal dropped 44% of the points behind the initial shot, playing against four break points and suffering three breaks to propel Novak over the finish line.
Djokovic tamed Nadal's forehand like probably no one before, forcing the Spaniard to cover the entire court and spreading him from one side to another with clinical hitting from both wings that gave him a considerable advantage. Interestingly, Rafa created that lone break point in the opening game of the match with a forehand winner, denied by a well-constructed attack from Novak who forced an error in game six to grab a break in game six and open a 4-2 gap. A service winner cemented the lead for the Serb, hitting another one in the ninth game to wrap up the opener 6-3 after 39 minutes.
Ruling the court, Novak opened the space in the opening game of the second set to place a backhand crosscourt winner and earn an early break, taking 21 of the last 30 points! Rafa saved a break point in the fifth game to stay within one break deficit although he never got a chance to pull the break back, serving at 3-5 to stay in the tournament. Wanting to take the trophy as soon as possible, Novak broke in that ninth game with a crafty point at the net, celebrating the crown and delivering an important win over the rival who managed to match his pace in the previous season.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2U9fpDd
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