Congratulations Nadal for another Grand Slam and creating History.! - Page 47

Q. How it went after the first set? What was exactly going on in the match for you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it was a great start; came back in the second. Could have gone to the tiebreak and was quite even. I lost that service game 6 5, and then the momentums went his side.
I started, you know, playing quite bad, you know, and didn't move as well. Struggled a little bit physically throughout that third set.
Then in the fourth started to feel a little bit better, but then just crucial points he played better. I wasn't playing at the level that I wanted, especially in the second part of the match.
You know, that's sport. It's how it is. These kind of big matches obviously take the best out of players. And of course it's a huge challenge. I tried to do my best. My best wasn't as the best against him in Rome a couple weeks ago.
But, you know, it's how it is. Congratulations to him. He was a better player in the crucial moments. Of course it's disappointing for me, but life goes on. It's not the first time or last time that I lost a match.

Q. Having to play Nadal in Roland Garros is something totally different than playing him elsewhere. Like does he have moral superiority here, or the court's wide, as you had mentioned before? Does it make him totally very different than from other courts?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, that's how it feels on the court. Obviously his records speak for themselves. He has won this tournament now nine times. It's very impressive what he's playing on this court. He has lost only once in his career on center court.
It's definitely not easy best of five to play against him in these conditions.

Q. Can you just describe your frustration level at the end of the match I guess with match point interruption also, and then just generally not able to break through? Seemed like you had more frustration visible normally than you might after...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's finals of Grand Slam. I mean, I have expectations. You want this win as much as your opponent across the net. That's it.
I'm emotional player, and the tennis court is an arena and I'm there to fight and I'm there to try to win, and, you know, show my emotions.
Unfortunately, it didn't work this time.

Q. Do you feel that you were not in the best physical condition today since two days ago you seemed to have some nose problems or something. Would you say that today Nadal won it because he was stronger physically in a way?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I did have the period of the match, as I mentioned, end of the second and the whole third set I struggled a little bit.
But as I said, it's not impossible, but it's very, very difficult to stay with Rafa in this court, you know, throughout the whole match on the highest level of performance.
It's normal that you have ups and downs. I was just hoping that in the fourth I would be able to come back. I started feeling, as I said, a little bit better, but I wasn't managing to, you know, bring my A game when it was most needed in the end of the fourth.

Q. Regarding to emotions, do you feel the crowd plays some role since you always are really, really loved here in Paris? Do you feel the crowd gave you not as good as it always gives you the cheers?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The crowd, I think support of the crowd was big for him, was big for me. I was trying to focus on my own fans, my own supporters, and of course it's finals of a Grand Slam.
When I play against Rafa, it's always exciting match for us to play and for crowd to see, so they get also involved in the match.
In the end of the day, it's very emotional. A lot of tension going on on the court. You can feel that.
I cannot, you know, find excuses in the crowd. You know, I cannot blame anybody. It's all part of the sport.

Rafael Nadal's shadow danced across the red clay as he bounced up and down during the coin toss. Novak Djokovic spent two sets shadow-boxing the world No. 1 on even terms, then the champion took charge of the fight.

Unleashing his uppercut forehand with vigor, Nadal extended his decade of clay-court dominance and denied Djokovic the career Grand Slam, grinding out a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 triumph. The king of clay claimed his record-extending ninth Roland Garros trophy and 14th Grand Slam title, matching Pete Sampras for second on the all-time list.

By the end, both were a bit staggered"Djokovic was drained by a queasy stomach, Nadal plagued by a creaky nerves and apparent cramps"but the Spaniard's passion for the fight on his favorite turf remained empowering. The final didn't reach the transcendent height of their four hour, 37-minute semifinal thriller last June, but was nearly as physically punishing and widely well-received: The crowd showered Djokovic with an extended standing ovation afterward.

Advancing aims collided with the world No. 1 ranking on the line in this 42nd meeting of a shifting rivalry. The left-handed top seed, who had never lost a French Open final, needed to establish his forehand down the line to spread the court, while the right-handed second seed, who had never won a French Open final, had to hit his backhand down the line to shrink his opponent's forehand opportunities, as he'd done in winning four in a row against Nadal.

Explosive movers and elastic defenders combined to shrink the largest Grand Slam stage in the game, extending rallies into a series of ongoing dashes. In the first set, Nadal played a sloppy service game and Djokovic made him pay, catching the edge of the sideline with a backhand for double break point, then drawing an error to break for 5-3. Then pressure barged in as Djokovic couldn't find a first serve and faced double break point of his own. But a nervous Nadal tightened up even more, shanking a forehand on the first chance and sailing another on the second, before the Serbian sealed the set in 44 minutes.

Realizing he needed to fire up his intensity and forehand, Nadal sharpened his footwork. Driving one forehand down the line, he danced around a reply, slashing a forehand winner down the opposite sideline. Curling a forehand down the line to complete his strongest spurt of the match, Nadal was recharged with a 3-2 second-set lead.

A flurry of inside-out forehands broke down Djokovic's defense, earning Nadal his first break for 4-2. But he gave it right back, gifting a couple of forehand errors wrapped around a double fault. Gulping deeper breaths between points and looking a little slower off the mark, Djokovic slapped a forehand wide to face double set point. Nadal pounced, pounding a forehand down the line, winning eight of the final nine points to take the second set with a scream and furious double fist pump.

Djokovic slowly swung his head side-to-side trying to stay loose; Nadal responded with a head-turning forehand down the line to set up a smash for an early break point in the third. Djokovic, who had successfully serve-and-volleyed twice before, tried it again, but netted a high volley and hung his head dropping his opening service game. Nadal banged an ace down the middle to back up the break at love for 3-0"his fifth straight game since throwing down those dirt-bomb forehands.

Widely regarded as the game's best returner, Djokovic defused three dangerous servers in succession"Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Milos Raonic, and Ernests Gulbis"to reach his second French Open final, but looked befuddled trying to fend off the bending lefty serves Nadal spun into his body today. Nadal won 50 percent of his second-serve points, fighting off six of nine break points, and his serving under pressure was crucial.

In a near 12-minute seventh game, Djokovic handcuffed Nadal with a deep return to earn break point. The world No. 1 erased the threat with a drop-shot winner, eventually fighting through for 5-2 and inciting an emotional crash-and-burn in his opponent. Djokovic blew a 40-15 lead in the following game, slamming his racquet to the court with such force he dislodged the dampener. A gloomy expression degenerated into queasy dejection when Djokovic sailed a forehand long, then vomited up fluids on court after falling behind two sets to one after two hours and 34 minutes.

Rallying past Rafa, who carried a 65-1 career Roland Garros record onto court, while plagued with a nauseous stomach and gnawing frustration seemed as daunting as a hurdling the Arc de Triomphe. Djokovic sat with an ice towel wrapped around his neck on fourth-set changeovers, but never gave up the fight.

When Nadal made a tremendous defensive stand to break for 4-2, the crowd roared, sensing the end. In the following game, fans erupted in chants of "Nole! Nole!" as Djokovic broke back with a slashing backhand return, then held for 4-all. Nadal navigated one more frenzied round, ending a deuce game by lashing a forehand winner for 5-4.

In the finale, a wobbled Djokovic missed a forehand to face championship point. A bruising three hour, 31-minute battle ended without a final blow as Djokovic spun a double fault and Nadal dropped to his knees in victory.

Nadal says his "love of suffering" is a key to his reign. Love hurts, and he tasted the pain at times today. But he brought the passion to back up that ferocious forehand, chomping the Coupe des Mousquetaires with another romantic bite.

"Every moment is crucial now. All the points are so hard," Nadal said after raising his French Open record to 66-1. "Playing against Novak always is a big, big challenge for me."

Super lines

Nadal says his "love of suffering" is a key to his reign. Love hurts, and he tasted the pain at times today. But he brought the passion to back up that ferocious forehand, chomping the Coupe des Mousquetaires with another romantic bite.

Congrats Rafa.

Now go for Double Career Slam(only AO needed) and Roger's record. 😊 I wanna see him win Wimbledon once more as well. 😊 Should be exciting with Rafa, Nole and Murray.

PARIS (AP) -- At the French Open, there's just no one better than Rafael Nadal.

The ''King of Clay'' proved that again on Sunday, winning the title at Roland Garros for the ninth time, and the fifth time in a row, by beating Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

Nadal improved his record at Roland Garros to 66-1, and stretched his winning streak at the clay-court major to 35 straight. He also became the first man to win the same Grand Slam title nine times.

''For me, playing here in Roland Garros is just unforgettable, forever,'' Nadal said on court.

But it didn't look too good at the start for the top-seeded Spaniard. Djokovic won the first set and looked to be in control of nearly every point. The combination of Nadal finding his range and the heat on court, however, started to take its toll on the second-seeded Serb.

Both players used ice-filled towels to cool themselves during changeovers, but Djokovic also looked like he vomited a bit as he was heading for the first changeover in the fourth set.

Djokovic also appeared out of sorts in the third set. Trailing 3-0, he wobbled as he went to take his seat on the bench for the changeover. And in the final set, with Nadal leading 5-4, Djokovic poured cold water on his head and on each forearm in an effort to cool off.

''It's normal that you have ups and downs. I was just hoping that in the fourth I would be able to come back,'' Djokovic said. ''I started feeling ... a little bit better, but I wasn't managing to bring my 'A' game when it was most needed in the end of the fourth.''

Nadal was broken once in the first set, once in the second and once again in the fourth. He was able to recover the second two breaks, however, as he started to find his range on Court Philippe Chatrier, the stadium Nadal calls his favorite place in the world to play.

He ended up breaking Djokovic to win the second set, and then again to win the third and yet again to win the fourth.

On match point, Djokovic double-faulted for the third time. Nadal dropped to his knees before shaking hands with Djokovic and then climbing into the crowd to celebrate with his team.

''Every moment is crucial now. All the points are so hard,'' Nadal said. ''Playing against Novak always is a big, big challenge for me.''

Nadal, who will retain his place at the top of the rankings with the victory, has now won 14 Grand Slam titles, tied for second among the men with Pete Sampras. Only Roger Federer, with 17 majors, has more.

''For me, this is amazing, emotional today,'' said Nadal, the runner-up at the Australian Open in January. ''I lost the final of Australia this year. I had a problem with my back in the final, so it was a very hard moment. So today, the tennis give me back what happened in Australia.''

Nadal is also the first to win five straight French Open titles. He won at Roland Garros from 2005-08, but lost for the only time in the fourth round of the 2009 tournament. Federer went on to win that year, completing a career Grand Slam.

Nadal is 23-19 against Djokovic overall, and 6-0 against him at Roland Garros. Djokovic took Nadal to five sets in last year's French Open semifinals, and lost in four in the 2012 final.

Entering Sunday's match, however, Djokovic had won their previous four meetings, including winning the title in Rome on clay.

The six-time major champion still needs a victory at the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

''I did again my best,'' said Djokovic, now 0-2 in French Open finals. ''I played at the maximum of my power, my strength, and my capability, but Rafa was the best player on the court.''

Originally posted by: scorpio_bins

Congrats Rafa.

Now go for Double Career Slam(only AO needed) and Roger's record. 😊I wanna see him win Wimbledon once more as well.😊Should be exciting with Rafa, Nole and Murray.

He il won this year Wimby sure

He did double slam 2010 n 2011 won both FO n Wimby

''For me, this is amazing, emotional today,'' said Nadal, the runner-up at the Australian Open in January. ''I lost the final of Australia this year. I had a problem with my back in the final, so it was a very hard moment. So today, the tennis give me back what happened in Australia.''

This AO lost :(

The world number one from Spain became the first man to win five successive titles at Roland Garros to take his overall grand slam tally to 14 - three short of Roger Federer's record.

Djokovic, who was looking to become the eighth man to complete a career grand slam, made a great start but appeared to suffer from the heat and humidity after losing the second set.

The 28-year-old Nadal, who has only lost one of his 67 matches on the Paris clay, fell on his knees when Djokovic double-faulted on the first match point.

"In matches like this every moment is crucial. Playing against Novak is always a big challenge, I had lost against him the last four times," Nadal said on court.

"Sorry for him today, he deserves to win this tournament."

It was Djokovic's sixth attempt against Nadal in his spiritual home, and his sixth failure - the second in a final after the 2012 showdown.

Djokovic, one of three men to beat Nadal on clay this year, had also won four of the last eight matches he had played against the Spaniard on the slow surface.

None of them had occurred in a best-of-five match, though.

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The 27-year-old Serb, who became the first person to win the opening set of a Roland Garros final against Nadal since 2006, went 40-15 up on Nadal's serve in the eighth game as the Spaniard had trouble finding his range.

Nadal saved the two break points with a forehand winner down the line and a big first serve but misfired on the third.

He had two break points in the ninth but fluffed a forehand on the first and sent another long on the second as Djokovic held to take the first set when Nadal failed to return a booming forehand.


Nadal set up a break point in the sixth game of the second set and thought he had won it with a backhand, only for umpire Pascal Maria to overrule the linesperson and award the point to Djokovic.

The Spaniard had another chance and there was no contest this time as Djokovic returned Nadal's forehand into the net, but the Serb broke straight back when his opponent's forehand sailed long.

Djokovic saved another break point in the eighth game but the momentum had shifted Nadal's way and the man from Mallorca took the set on the world number two's serve with a forehand winner.

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He broke in the second game of the third set when Djokovic, who looked exhausted, netted a regulation volley.

At the following change of ends, the Serb almost fell off his chair.

Djokovic continued to fight but Nadal was always on top, wrapping up the set on Djokovic's serve when the Serb sent a forehand long.

It was a long backhand that gave Nadal a seemingly decisive break for 4-2 in the fourth set, but a rejuvenated Djokovic broke straight back before a final lapse in concentration handed Nadal the title.


"Congratulations to Rafa and his team, it is incredible to win this tournament nine times," Djokovic said.

"It was an emotional day. I have tried with all my power, my strength, my capacities but Rafa was the strongest on court.

"To my team: this trophy is not for us this year but we will try again and again."

Rafa's parents are indeed great as they put their differences aside to hold united front and support their son throughout his big matches since he came back last year. Great family

List of men's singles champions:

2014 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4

2013 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3 6-2 6-3

2012 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4 6-3 2-6 7-5

2011 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1

2010 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Robin Soderling (Sweden) 6-4 6-2 6-4

2009 Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Robin Soderling (Sweden) 6-1 7-6 6-4

2008 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-1 6-3 6-0

2007 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4

2006 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6

2005 Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Mariano Puerta (Argentina) 6-7 6-3 6-1 7-5

2004 Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 0-6 3-6 6-4 6-1 8-6

2003 Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat Martin Verkerk (Netherlands) 6-1 6-3 6-2

2002 Albert Costa (Spain) beat Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 6-1 6-0 4-6 6-3

2001 Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat Alex Corretja (Spain) 6-7 7-5 6-2 6-0

2000 Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat Magnus Norman (Sweden) 6-2 6-3 2-6 7-6

1999 Andre Agassi (U.S.) beat Andrei Medvedev (Ukraine) 1-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4

1998 Carlos Moya (Spain) beat Alex Corretja (Spain) 6-3 7-5 6-3

1997 Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat Sergi Bruguera (Spain) 6-3 6-4 6-2

1996 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) beat Michael Stich (Germany) 7-6 7-5 7-6

1995 Thomas Muster (Austria) beat Michael Chang (U.S.) 7-5 6-2 6-4

1994 Sergi Bruguera (Spain) beat Alberto Berasategui (Spain) 6-3 7-5 2-6 6-1

1993 Sergi Bruguera (Spain) beat Jim Courier (U.S.) 6-4 2-6 6-2 3-6 6-3

1992 Jim Courier (U.S.) beat Petr Korda (Czechoslovakia) 7-5 6-2 6-1

1991 Jim Courier (U.S.) beat Andre Agassi (U.S.) 3-6 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-4

1990 Andres Gomez (Ecuador) beat Andre Agassi (U.S.) 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-4

1989 Michael Chang (U.S.) beat Stefan Edberg (Sweden) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-2

1988 Mats Wilander (Sweden) beat Henri Leconte (France) 7-5 6-2 6-1

1987 Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) beat Mats Wilander (Sweden) 7-5 6-2 3-6 7-6

1986 Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) beat Mikael Pernfors (Sweden) 6-3 6-2 6-4

1985 Mats Wilander (Sweden) beat Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2

1984 Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) beat John McEnroe (U.S.) 3-6 2-6 6-4 7-5 7-5

1983 Yannick Noah (France) beat Mats Wilander (Sweden) 6-2 7-5 7-6

1982 Mats Wilander (Sweden) beat Guillermo Vilas (Argentina) 1-6 7-6 6-0 6-4

1981 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) 6-1 4-6 6-2 3-6 6-1

1980 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Vitas Gerulaitis (U.S.) 6-4 6-1 6-2

1979 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Victor Pecci (Paraguay) 6-3 6-1 6-7 6-4

1978 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Guillermo Vilas (Argentina) 6-1 6-1 6-3

1977 Guillermo Vilas (Argentina) beat Brian Gottfried (U.S.) 6-0 6-3 6-0

1976 Adriano Panatta (Italy) beat Harold Solomon (U.S.) 6-1 6-4 4-6 7-6

1975 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Guillermo Vilas (Argentina) 6-2 6-3 6-4

1974 Bjorn Borg (Sweden) beat Manuel Orantes (Spain) 6-7 6-0 6-1 6-1

1973 Ilie Nastase (Romania) beat Niki Pilic (Yugoslavia) 6-3 6-3 6-0

1972 Andres Gimeno (Spain) beat Patrick Proisy (France) 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-1

1971 Jan Kodes (Czechoslovakia) beat Ilie Nastase (Romania) 8-6 6-2 2-6 7-5

1970 Jan Kodes (Czechoslovakia) beat Zelijko Franulovic (Yugoslavia) 6-2 6-4 6-0

1969 Rod Laver (Australia) beat Ken Rosewall (Australia) 6-4 6-3 6-4

1968 Ken Rosewall (Australia) beat Rod Laver (Australia) 6-3 6-1 2-6 6-2

1967 Roy Emerson (Australia) beat Tony Roche (Australia) 6-1 6-4 2-6 6-2

1966 Tony Roche (Australia) beat Istvan Gulyas (Hungary) 6-1 6-4 7-5

1965 Fred Stolle (Australia) beat Tony Roche (Australia) 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-3

1964 Manuel Santana (Spain) beat Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) 6-3 6-1 4-6 7-5

1963 Roy Emerson (Australia) beat Pierre Darmon (France) 3-6 6-1 6-4 6-4

1962 Rod Laver (Australia) beat Roy Emerson (Australia) 3-6 2-6 6-3 9-7 6-2

1961 Manuel Santana (Spain) beat Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) 4-6 6-1 3-6 6-0 6-2

1960 Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) beat Luis Ayala (Chile) 3-6 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-3

1959 Nicola Pietrangeli (Italy) beat Ian Vermaak (South Africa) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-1

1958 Mervyn Rose (Australia) beat Luis Ayala (Chile) 6-3 6-4 6-4

1957 Sven Davidson (Sweden) beat Herbert Flam (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 6-4

1956 Lew Hoad (Australia) beat Sven Davidson (Sweden) 6-4 8-6 6-3

1955 Tony Trabert (U.S.) beat Sven Davidson (Sweden) 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-2

1954 Tony Trabert (U.S.) beat Arthur Larsen (U.S.) 6-4 7-5 6-1

1953 Ken Rosewall (Australia) beat Vic Seixas (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-2

1952 Jaroslav Drobny (Egypt) beat Frank Sedgman (Australia) 6-2 6-0 3-6 6-4

1951 Jaroslav Drobny (Egypt) beat Eric Sturgess (South Africa) 6-3 6-3 6-3

1950 Budge Patty (U.S.) beat Jaroslav Drobny (Egypt) 6-1 6-2 3-6 5-7 7-5

1949 Frank Parker (U.S.) beat Budge Patty (U.S.) 6-3 1-6 6-1 6-4

1948 Frank Parker (U.S.) beat Jaroslav Drobny (Czechoslovakia) 6-4 7-5 5-7 8-6

1947 Joseph Asboth (Hungary) beat Eric Sturgess (South Africa) 8-6 7-5 6-4

1946 Marcel Bernard (France) beat Jaroslav Drobny (Czechoslovakia) 3-6 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-3

1940-45 No competition

1939 W.Donald McNeill (U.S.) beat Bobby Riggs (U.S.) 7-5 6-0 6-3

1938 J. Donald Budge (U.S.) beat Roderik Menzel (Czechoslovakia) 6-3 6-2 6-4

1937 Henner Henkel (Germany) beat Henry Austin (Britain) 6-1 6-4 6-3

1936 Gottfried von Cramm (Germany) beat Fred Perry (Britain) 6-0 2-6 6-2 2-6 6-0

1935 Fred Perry (Britain) beat Gottfried von Cramm (Germany) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-3

1934 Gottfried von Cramm (Germany) beat John. H Crawford (Australia) 6-4 7-9 3-6 7-5 6-3

1933 John. H Crawford (Australia) beat Henri Cochet (France) 8-6 6-1 6-3

1932 Henri Cochet (France) beat Giorgio de Stefani (Italy) 6-0 6-4 4-6 6-3

1931 Jean Borotra (France) beat Claude Boussus (France) 2-6 6-4 7-5 6-4

1930 Henri Cochet (France) beat William T. Tilden (U.S.) 3-6 8-6 6-3 6-1

1929 Rene Lacoste (France) beat Jean Borotra (France) 6-3 2-6 6-0 2-6 8-6

1928 Henri Cochet (France) beat Rene Lacoste (France) 5-7 6-3 6-1 6-3

1927 Rene Lacoste (France) beat William T. Tilden (U.S.) 6-4 4-6 5-7 6-3 11-9

1926 Henri Cochet (France) beat Rene Lacoste (France) 6-2 6-4 6-3

1925 Rene Lacoste (France) beat Jean Borotra (France) 7-5 6-1 6-4