Wimbledon – Novak Djokovic defeats Rafa Nadal for The Championships title

So far this year, Serbian Novak Djokovic has won 48 of the 49 matches he has played this season. That goes even a little further if we take into account last year’s Davis Cup. He has won every tournament he has been into for the sole exception of the French Open, where he couldn’t outplay Roger Federer in the semifinals. Just for the sake of information, Roger Federer would eventually lose the final of the French Open to the King of Clay, one Rafael Nadal.

Back at Roland Garros I said on the subsequent blog entry that had Roger Federer not managed to defeat Novak Djokovic, it would have been Djokovic who would have won the French Open. Let’s consider that on three warm up clay court tournaments before Paris, Djokovic had won on each, including two wins in the finals against Rafael Nadal. The truth is that the Djoker had Nadal figured out, even when playing in his strongest surface. What Djokovic hadn’t figured out yet was how to defeat perhaps the greatest player to have yet to play the game, the Swiss Roger Federer.

Perhaps this is why when Djokovic finally got his chance to defeat Rafael Nadal for a Grand Slam tournament I couldn’t help but to feel extremely excited about the Djoker’s accomplishments this season. One must understand that by defeating Rafa on Sunday, Djokovic was certainly redefining his career. He was certainly taking his tennis game to a whole new level. Let’s consider that before this win, Novak Djokovic had never defeated Rafael Nadal on a Grand Slam. Certainly not when playing for a Grand Slam title. Neither had he ever won a grass-court tournament of any sort, let alone the Championships at Wimbledon. Before 2011, Novak Djokovic had been a great player. Now we can say he is quite phenomenal.

Novak Djokovic was faster, stronger, had a better swing and simply ran from side to side of the court showing his best defense up to date. This brilliant performance was enough to defeat the defending champion, Rafael Nadal by 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 at Central Court. This is his first title at the All England Club and third major championship overall. Many are already making of him the favorite to go on and win the US Open.

:Djokovic wins Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal
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Second Service: Nadal cut after crucial win

 By Adrian Humphries 2:30PM 24 JAN 2011 BOOKMAKERS felt Rafael Nadal took a huge step towards regaining the Australian Open crown on Monday when he swept aside Marin Cilic 6-2 6-4 6-3 to advance to the last eight in Melbourne.

Cilic had beaten Nadal 6-1 6-3 in China in 2009 and the world No. 1 was well aware of the potential danger the Croat provided to his chance of holding all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

However, Nadal produced a sterling performance against Cilic, slowing down the pace of the match, and his reward is a clash against inferior fellow Spaniard and friend David Ferrer.

Nadal was no bigger than 6-4, and as short as evens, for the title after his win while second seed Roger Federer drifted to 23-10 after his great rival progressed.

A Nadal v Federer final, which was 13-8 before the tournament started, is now 6-5 with Paddy Power, while Bet365 go just 10-11.

Britain’s Andy Murray can never have enjoyed an easier path through a Grand Slam tournament. The world No. 5 was cut to 9-2, having been 8-1, after easing past Jurgen Melzer 6-3 6-1 6-1 just after his scheduled quarter-final opponent Robin Soderling was upset 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2 by Alexandr Dolgopolov.

US Open champion Kim Clijsters was tops at 6-4 to claim a first Aussie Open singles crown after surviving a tough test against Eastbourne heroine Ekaterina Makarova, whom she beat 7-6 6-2.

Australian Open best outright prices before last night’s play – men: 6-4 R Nadal, 23-10 R Federer, 9-2 A Murray, 7 N Djokovic, 45 T Berdych, 66 S Wawrinka, 125 A Dolgopolov, D Ferrer; women: 6-4 K Clijsters, 4 C Wozniacki, 11-2 Na Li, 6 V Zvonareva, 12 P Kvitova, 20 A Petkovic, 50 F Schiavone, 100 A Radwanska.

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ATP World Tour Finals – Roger Federer defeats Rafael Nadal in Championship Game

by Stephen Lars on Nov.30, 2010, under Sports News, Tennis

Roger Federer has been working his way around this very complicated season. So perhaps this end of season win in the O2 Arena comes certainly as a big relief for the talented athlete. The season has been filled with ups and downs for the Swiss Maestro. He was brilliant at the Australian Open but things got very complicated in the other three Grand Slams. Federer was sent off before the French Open semifinals. Federer has always struggled in the clay courts of Roland Garros. What the fast paced courts of the Meadowlands in New York in the US Open is to Rafael Nadal, the clay courts in Paris where to Federer.

Federer then fell very early, in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. He had been the most prolific and succesful player in the grass courts of Wimbledon during the last decade. And yet this year he had failed to make it into the quarterfinals.

In the US Open, Federer played one of the most intense games ever against Novak Djokovik in the semifinals. He really couldn’t overcome the pressure, and saw how his early exit in the US Open gave Rafa Nadal his Career Grand Slam and assured the Spaniard his position atop the ATP professional rankings.

Federer was not capable of making it back to his best shape. He went on to hire a new coach and for a moment gave signs of a very significant improvement. But still it was not enough for the King of the Slams to get as competitive as the biggest tournaments required him to.

But on this game, it all went for Federer. Rafa was really not able to play a very strong match. Sure, he managed to push the game into a 3 set game, but as the game kept evolving, little by little, it seemed as if Rafa was growing tired by the minute. This was the 22nd match between the two players. Still, Federer proved that he was the strongest player in London. With a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, Federer won his 5th World Tour Finals on Sunday and kept on his dominance on this Round Robin, top 8 ranked player in the world, season finale championship. So, yes, not a bad ending for Federer.

Nadal had never made it into the finals of this tournament. But he had to pay his duties to get here. Nadal spent over three-hours to bring down Andy Murray and that was a bit too much to deal with, 24 hours before playing no other the Federer on the final. We have to be since with you guys here. It really seemed that at the end, Nadal just gave up a little. He knew that no matter whether he lost or win this game, he was going to walk his way into the next season sitting atop of the ATP rankings.

Nadal also knew that he had had one of the most extraordinary years any professional tennis player has ever had or even dreamed to have. Sure, Roger’s win would cut down Nadal and Federer’s personal record down to 14-8 for Nadal. But it didn’t matter much. Federer was just outstanding. He was almost flawless, he hit 92 percent of his first served plays and lost only 13 points on serve in the entire match.

That’s it for the season. It has been a great year in the ATP circuit. There has been room for some exciting upsets and many record breaking moments. But that’s it. We might have a new king. Its now a matter of time to see if Federer is going to make a comeback and reclaim what is his.

US Open – Rafa Nadal wins the US Open and completes Career Slam

by Stephen Lars on Sep.14, 2010, under Sports News, Tennis

Rafa Nadal is 24 years-old. He just defeated Novak Djokovic in the Final of the 2010 US Open in a ferocious and exciting game that ended 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. This is his ninth Grand Slam Championship. It is also his third consecutive Grand Slam title, that is, his third grand slam in a single calendar year. At 24 he has become the seventh man in tennis history to win at least one of the four Grand Slam. Something that not even the great Pete Sampras can say about his professional career.

As if that was not enough, he has also won an Olympic Gold Medal and the Davis Cup while playing for Spain. So, when you look back at it, there is really nothing left for the Spaniard to prove his fellow professionals. At 24, he has really made it to the top of the Tennis World and has by his hard work, dedication and consistency made a place for himself in the history books of this sport.

Novak Djokovic had had to play his heart out against Roger Federer in the semi-final. He played one of his finest matches against the Swiss maestro. Now, although he had an extra day of recovery (because for the third consecutive year weather issues forced the championship game to be played on a Monday) he was still unable to summon al his strengths and really play Nadal at his best.

Everyone was expecting a Federer-Nadal final. But Novak Djokovic deserved his spot in the final. And it also gives some sort of poetic justice, or fair play balance, if you will, to how both Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal both won their respective career slams.

Last year, finally, Roger Federer was able to win at the clay courts of Roland Garros, over a surface that had been his week spot for many years. If you recall, that was the French Open that the King of Clay AKA Rafa Nadal, could not defend because of injury. This time around, in the US Open, Nadal had finally conquer a Grand Slam title in a surface that has always giving him troubles, without the most dominant player in the last 6 years in the final. So a big part goes to Djokovic for getting Nadal out of the way. Still, kudos for the Spaniard, as Djokovic personal record against Nadal over hard surfaces was certainly in favor of the Serb.

So why did it take so long for Nadal to win at Flushing Meadows. It is hard to say. He played a good tournament, and he only dropped during the whole tournament and it came at Arthur Ashe stadium against Novak Djokovic in the final. Nadal had issues with the courts which, despite what he had previously said, are too fast and too hard for him. The balls are too soft, and a bit smaller. The wind is a huge factor that can really mess-up his spin and curved strokes.

So yeah, he has always struggled in the US Open. But he is not only really talented, but he is also a Spaniard. And this has been by far the most successful year ever in Spanish Sports. Spain won the World Cup, a Spaniard won the Tour de France, Nadal has won three ATP Grand Slams in a single year,  and if they play right there might be a Spaniard champion of the Moto GP and the Formula 1. Had they won the FIBA World Championship, they would have been almost perfect.

US Open: Rafa Nadal makes it into the semifinals after beating Verdasco

Rafa Nadal, one of the finest players in the tour made it into the championship weekend of the US Open he outplayed his fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco by 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the 2010 US Open quarterfinals. Last year and the year before that, Nadal has been sent home in the semifinals. This time around, and with the rhythm  at which he has been playing, there is a good chance he might go straight forward into the final.

Nadal is know only two games away from winning his third grand slam in a single calendar year. He is also very close, as close as he has been, from winning the only Grand Slam that has in one way or another, always escaped him. But not only that, there is even a greater chance that his tennis nemesis, the Swiss Roger Federer, is going to be able to make it pass Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. That would mean that not only will they play for the first time at the US Open, but they will be making their debut at the championship match.

When it comes to betting on the US Open quarterfinals, Rafael Nadal is certainly the No 1 favorite to make it into the finals. He is not expected, and that is by no means, to have too many issues in the court against Mikhail Youznhy. At ML

Rafael Nadal for U.S. Open?

So Rafael Nadal has won the 133rd edition of Wimbledon, and not for the first time. This puts him hot on the heels of Roger Federer for the title of the best player in the history of the game