From our correspondent
PARIS – Because of the bodybuilder’s physique, that straight and that brutal strength, it is often forgotten that Rafael Nadal a tennis genius. Indeed, more. Because it hasn’t always been. It became one with time, with the passing years and the defeats. None of the so-called Big 3 has been able to change and model their game on the other two more than him. Today, to achieve Roger at 20 Grand Slams(HERE: Federer’s life and successes), and keeping open a discussion on the greatest ever destined to never close, gave a lesson in tactics and strategy in Novak Djokovic, who in that ranking now reduced to only three superhuman beings closely follows him.
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The Spanish champion surprised Djokovic by changing his trajectory whenever he could, forcing him with some lob, aka candelone, to strike over the shoulder, which the Serbian champion detests. He prevented him in every way from finding pace and impact as he wanted, all while remaining aggressive, committing only three free mistakes in the first two hours of play. A masterpiece of tennis science, other than brute force.
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Novak Djokovic’s form appeared suspicious throughout Roland Garros. To tell the truth, even before. Of course, he was blown away by Nadal’s tactics. But he appeared not only tired, also exhausted. as if something had broken not in his game, but in his nervousness. While Rafa’s vamos resounded in the half-empty and frozen Chatrier, despite the closure of the roof, and we so much hope that we will never again have to tell a Grand Slam without an audience, so sad and dark, Djokovic remained silent for two hours. Not a breath, not a fit of anger or a word afterwards having said all and too many in recent months. He will have time to register, and in the hunt for the Grand Slam record he is still the favorite.
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But his apathy today must not take anything away to the thirteenth Parisian triumph of Nadal. Knowing him, one of the tastiest, given how much Djokovic had made him suffer in the last two years. In the story of their rivalry, the winner of the first set had then won the game in 48 out of 55 matches, including the last 14. So it was known that the start of the match would have some importance. They both had to know. Forget it. Nadal started in attack mode, Djokovic showed a game plan, if he ever had one, a bit presumptuous.
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Can anyone, even someone named Novak claim to beat Nadal in his backyard by relying only on drop shots as the only variation? The answer in the final score. Now, with Nadal and Federer at 20 Grand Slams, the same old story will start again. Djokovic at 17. Sooner or later someone from the rear will come out to break the monopoly of the three phenomena. We have an idea of who it might be. A red-haired Italian boy, the only one here who was able to put Nadal in trouble (WHO: the story of Jannik Sinner). We can’t wait for next season to start, admitted and not granted that we can have one.
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11 October 2020 (change 11 October 2020 | 18:56)
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