Rafael Nadal will take Caja Magica’s fifth title at home in Madrid this week, against Carlos Alcaraz in the opener. Speaking about his memories of the Madrid Open, Rafa mentioned 2009 as one of the exciting campaigns, battling Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer despite knee problems.
In the semifinals, Nadal needed four hours and three minutes to beat Djokovic 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 and set up the title clash against Federer. Rafa did his best to recover in such a short time, but Federer took advantage of the circumstances to clinch a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 26 minutes and become Madrid’s first champion to Caja Magica on the box. red.
It was a significant victory for the Swiss, who started to lose ground in previous months after being beaten by his biggest rivals at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and Rome. Roger’s plan was simple, as he tried to keep the points as short as possible on Madrid’s fast clay and avoid long rallies and pressure on his backhand.
Federer only gained five points more than Rafa, pushing back all four break opportunities and seizing both earned opportunities on the return trip to become champion, toppling Nadal for the second time in 11 clay court appearances. Furthermore, the Swiss eventually beat Nadal’s five-game winning streak, all in notable finals including at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
It was only Rafa’s fifth loss on clay in the last 155 matches and the first after 33 consecutive wins, losing to Roger for the fifth time in the 16 ATP Finals they had played so far.
Rafael Nadal lost the Madrid Open final to Roger Federer in 2009.
This semi-final clash against Novak took a toll on Nadal, but he was there to fight for every point, creating a chance for a break in the second game which Roger saved with a serve winner to avoid an early setback.
The Spaniard was the best player on the pitch in the first six games, holding on with ease and creating another 3-2 break chance that could have put him ahead. Federer pushed him back with a powerful forehand attack and tied the score at 3-3 with two winners to keep in touch with his opponent.
The Swiss took a giant step towards the first set in Game 9, creating a break opportunity with a forehand winner and converting it when Rafa scored a backhand to move 5-4 and serve for the set. Carried by that momentum, Federer stayed in love with a service winner to clinch the first set 6-4 after 40 minutes, hoping for more of the same in the rest of the game.
The Swiss were a more aggressive player on the pitch, effectively defending the second serve before seizing the only chance on the return trip to make a difference. Nadal continued to fight and love each other twice at the start of the second set, with a completely different result pending at 2-2.
Roger created a break opportunity with a backhand winner, and Rafa sealed his fate when his forehand landed long, allowing Federer to advance 3-2 and control the scoreboard. Roger cemented the break with a serve winner and opened a 5-3 lead to another unrendered serve in Game 8, approaching the finish line.
Nadal reduced the deficit after two, and Roger was now serving for the title at 5-4, with a good grip between him and the trophy. The persistent Spaniard won two break chances that could have changed the game completely had he converted one.
It wasn’t for him, however, to waste the first with an open backhand that landed wide and the second when Roger forced an error from his right wing. Rafa saved the first match point, but Roger pulled an ace on his second to bring the game home and lift the 15th Masters 1000 Trophy, the first since Cincinnati 2007 and the fifth on clay.
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