Rome: Rafa reigns again
Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/ AFP/ GettyImages
A Master’s final on a Monday – a rare thing indeed. Not that rare for Rafa and Nole to play a Monday final, though. Seems to be an annual affair lately. Both guys came out firing and Rafa had break points in the first game. He didn’t convert then, but did so in the 5th game to go up 3-2. Rafa followed that with an error-filled game and Nole broke back. They held serve until a tight 11th game. An error from Djokovic after a long rally earned Rafa a break point. He broke on a very weird and drop shot attempt to go up 6-5. And you know what? He served that out without any sign of the nerves he’s showed lately when serving for sets. First set Rafa: 7-5.
AggressiveRafa came out to play in set two: stepping in and dictating points. He broke in the first game. Much like the break in the first set, though, Rafa went down 0-40 in his next service game. Rafa fought back to hold this time, however. The 4th game was a weird and nervy one from both players. Rafa had to fight to hold, but he did. Rafa had a break/match point in the 9th game. In a sad way to end the match, Nole double faulted and the win was Rafa’s: 7-5, 6-3.
Stats:
| Nadal | Djokovic | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 0 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 57% | 64% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 27/39 (69%) | 32/47 (68%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 17/30 (57%) | 10/27 (37%) |
| Break Points Saved | 6/7 (86%) | 3/7 (43%) |
| Service Games Played | 10 | 11 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 15/47 (32%) | 12/39 (31%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 17/27 (63%) | 13/30 (43%) |
| Break Points Won | 4/7 (57%) | 1/7 (14%) |
| Return Games Played | 11 | 10 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 44/69 (64%) | 42/74 (57%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 32/74 (43%) | 25/69 (36%) |
| Total Points Won | 76/143 (53%) | 67/143 (47%) |
| Other Stats | ||
| Winners | 15 | 22 |
| Unforced errors | 21 | 41 |
| Net Approaches | 10/13 (77%) | 15/23 (65%) |
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Gee I am one very happy Rafa fan today. That was a really superb match, and you can see that Uncle Toni and Rafa have worked super hard the last year, and come up with a game plan that really works. I hope all those so called experts like Bodo, who basically said that Rafa was history and that he didnt have it in him, are eating humble pie at the moment.
Rafa is known as the Bull, and the one thing a Bull never does is give up! Waht I love about him, and what is so great to see, is that he never gives us, he tries and tries and kept on trying. I think the Aussie Open was the turning point. Yes he could have and probably should have won it, but he didnt have the believe in himself that he did and stuffed up a couple of big points that would have given him 5-2 in the 5th set. But he learnt from that, and is now putting into play all what he has learnt from those 7 losses.
Excellent to see the variety on the serve and most importantly the depth and weight of shot on the forehand and the backhand. That is what won him the match today. Djoker wasnt able to hit those amazing winners as he was pinned behind the baseline. I must admit I dont like that man, he really aghgravates me with his aggressiveness, shirt ripping, and weird wide eye rolling that he does, so it is great to see our lovely wee Rafa doing what he does best – winning and winning in style. Vamos Rafa. Cant wait for the French Open!
Vamossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
I totally agree with everything you have said.
I normally do not read the Bleacher Reports, as I find so many of their contributors in the sports I know are bad to worse. This, however, I thought worth quoting, from “Lessons from Rome”:
There is only one king of clay;
Everything about Madrid was a fluke;
Djokovic’s honeymoon period is over;
Hard work is more important than talent;
No lead is insurmountable in tennis.
Yep.
Nice!:o)
Wowzerssss. This sums things up perfectly!
I wrote after last year Wibmbledon that Rafa will be back to winning ways soon. I am glad he is winning now. He is always polite and curteous in his wins. A lesson Djokvic and indeed everyone should learn.
Well done Rafa.
ken
Uncle Toni was more animated during the match, standing up on great shots and constantly motivating his ward…twas a great much. It had its tense moments but a great one overall. Now that order is back in the “Clay world” I can look forward to RG confident that our man will lift another trophy in 3 weeks time.
Now that order is back in the “Clay world” I can look forward to RG confident that our man will lift another trophy in 3 weeks time
Psst antijinx mode pleeease, lets not get ahead of ourselves, even though I am one rejuvenated Rafa fan right now!!! yiipeeeeeeeeeeee!
I agree..Uncle Toni needs to CALM DOWN!
I feel there is a new demeanor around Rafa lately. I remember last year…if he lost his serve against Novak, he would have a worried look on his face. This time it was “business as usual”. I oh so love the fh down the line. Yes Novak returns them BUT SHORT; giving our boy time to come in to the net. Which is anothe tactic I love to see!!!
I liked the tweet from Babolat:
He came. He saw. He conquered Rome. The King of Clay is one step closer to @rolandgarros.
Nice. Veni, vidi, vici indeed.
Note sure where to post this so here goes [from RG12@twitter]:
Wilander and Seles will give the trophy to men’s and women’s singles winner this year
I watched the match live on and I love how at the end sky sports used ‘Nessun Dorma’ sung by Pavarotti to show the highlights. A better song for Rafa’s win I can’t think of. ‘Al’alba vincero. Vincero! Vinceeeerooo!!!’ Lovely! Evnen tho it should now read ‘Ho Vinto!’ Welldone Rafa. Love you Campeon.
I like that. One of my very favorite arias, by a past master of that piece. Thanks for posting this.
I think I read somewhere that Rafa often listens to opera (not just Phantom of the Opera). I hope it’s true. 8-)
Anybody know where can i find the full match? I missed it :( but I am so glad Rafa won. He deserves this more than anybody. And he deserves to be #2 coming in Roland Garros.
Yes there was alot of motivation on Rafas part for this final, 1. regaining his no.2 ranking! 2. re-claiming his crown! and 3. Planting his authority,(at least on the clay), prior to RG… hope it pays off, the ocmmentators were very pro Nole on sky for the most part, so annoying! still was really special to watch, loved Rafa in the 2nd set 1st game, now thats what I’m talking about, he should replay that game and remind himself how gr8 he is, ala v. Berdych match too…
He played superbly against Berdych ,i think..Serve percentages high etc..Hope he maintains that level for FO! :o)
I watched the match live and the commies (Rob Koenig for one) concentrated almost the whole match on how Nole is not at his best. I agree that Nole was not his v2 of 2011, but what about Rafa made him look like v1? Rafa himself was not that great at times, but what I can tell is that he was so so calm. Somewhere on this post someone made a comment that it looks like Rafa smiled at one point just before he served. I rewatched the match last night and YES he did it!!! It was just after Nole lost his composure (again) after he played a horrible shot. I rewinded just to watch it again. It was that type of smile after doing something naughty hahaha PRICELESS!!
Can u please tell me when this was?i.e at what point?
I think it was at 4 – 5 or 6 -5 @ 40-30. I noticed the same thing, started laughing, rewound the match to watch it again. Clearly Rafa had to remember to put his ‘game face’ back on, because he’s talking to himself, shaking his head as Novak rages, looks over at Novak, and yes, he does smile. I think that’s what put Novak over the edge.
Interesting article about Nadal’s Brain Game at the ATP site:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/Features/Brain-Game-Nadal-Brings-Opponents-To-Breaking-Point.aspx
dk,
Thanks for this wonderful article’Brain Game: Rafa Brings Opponents to Breaking Point’. I love the superb analysis of rafa’s strongest strenght, His Mind.