Novak Djokovic: 'Rafael Nadal outplayed me at Roland Garros, I have nothing to..'

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will lead two ATP Finals groups as the world's best players for the third straight season. Novak has secured the sixth year-end no. 1 honor, joining Pete Sampras at the top of the list and leaving Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on five seasons on the throne. Novak claimed the 17th Major crown in Melbourne, moving closer to Roger and Rafa before two severe losses at the US Open and Roland Garros. In New York, Novak got defaulted for the first time in a career, advancing into the final in Paris and trying to become only the third player in history with two crowns at all four Majors. Still, Rafael Nadal proved to be too strong, scoring a 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 victory in two hours and 41 minutes and extending his Roland Garros reign! Nadal scored the 100th triumph from 102 encounters in Paris since 2005, a true testimony of his unmatched dominance at the clay Major. It was anything but a regular Roland Garros, with the event going on in cold and rainy October, with new Wilson balls and a roof over the central court.

Above all that, Nadal had played only one tournament between Acapulco and Roland Garros, missing the US Open and suffering the quarter-final loss in Rome! He got back at his best in Paris, winning the 20th Major title at 34 and achieving that without dropping a set! Suffering only eight breaks in seven matches, Nadal delivered one of his best serving displays in Paris, pushing the rivals to the limits on the return. The Spaniard endured three tight sets against Jannik Sinner, Diego Schwartzman and Novak Djokovic to wrap up the tournament with perfect numbers. Rafa became the third-oldest champion in Paris, extending his dominance on the slowest surface and claiming the 60th ATP title on clay. In the final, Rafa had to be aggressive and focused against the most formidable opponent, doing everything right and leaving Novak far behind in the opening two sets.

Novak Djokovic won only seven games in Roland Garros final against Rafael Nadal.

Nadal finished the match with 31 winners and 14 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely from both wings and stealing 51% of the return points to forge the crucial difference. Novak sprayed 52 unforced errors, unable to challenge the rival for more than two hours or win a set despite a solid effort in the third. Rafa lost serve once, which was never enough for Novak to feel comfortable and relaxed on the court, doing almost nothing on the return and having no idea how to outplay Rafa in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, the area where he should have had the advantage. They stayed neck and neck until 5-5 in the third, with Novak hitting a double fault to lose serve and propel Rafa towards the title after another fine hold from the Spaniard. Speaking about the match ahead of the ATP Finals, Novak said there is nothing to regret, as Rafa outplayed him and kept him far away from the trophy. 

"I got out of the US Open with something not related to hitting a forehand or backhand into the net. And the French Open final? I couldn't say I regret something and think I was close because I wasn't. Rafa outplayed me, and so it's not difficult to move on," Novak Djokovic said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3nlFOrA