French Open 2015
Novak Djokovic crushed the French Open’s history maker and moving ever closer to joining the record books himself.
Djokovic powered past Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1 in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Wednesday to hand the “King of Clay” only his second defeat in 72 matches in southwest Paris.
If the world No. 1 wins his next two outings, he’ll become the eighth man to complete the career grand slam.
“It’s definitely a big win,” Djokovic told reporters. “A match that I will remember for a long time.”
Andy Murray will need to produce something extraordinary to oust Djokovic in the semifinals. Murray, who passed a significant test himself by topping 2013 finalist David Ferrer for the first time on clay, has lost seven in a row to his childhood pal.
Djokovic stretched at the net to reach a Nadal backhand and his forehand turned into an outstanding lob. Nadal chased back and his own defensive lob found the corner but Djokovic retrieved again. Three shots later, Nadal’s attempted forehand drop shot sailed into the net.
Nadal rallied for 4-4, highlights on match was on, he missed smash when serving at 5-6, 30-15 proved costly, and Djokovic took the pivotal opener on his sixth set-point.
“The first set was very decisive,” Djokovic’s Serbian co-coach Marian Vajda told reporters. Once Djokovic broke for 5-3 in the second, Nadal unraveled.
The 14-time grand slam winner said this week the nerves that affected him early in the season had largely dissipated, yet his confidence is still clearly lacking. Not winning a European clay-court tournament entering Paris for the first time since 2004 knocked back the Mallorcan and saw his French Open seeding drop to sixth.
“I’m going to come back next year and I’m going to try to be competitive, try to be better prepared than this year and try to arrive with a little bit more good confidence,” he said.
Nadal succumbed quickly in the third, his fate all but sealed when Djokovic struck a net-cord winner for a 3-0 double-break advantage.
“Obviously he didn’t serve that well, especially in the second and third set,” said Djokovic. “He made some unforced errors that are not characteristic for him maybe from the forehand.
Novak Djokovic crushed the French Open’s history maker and now the Serb is moving ever closer to joining the record books himself.
Djokovic powered past Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1 in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Wednesday to hand the “King of Clay” only his second defeat in 72 matches in southwest Paris.
If the world No. 1 wins his next two outings, he’ll become the eighth man to complete the career grand slam.
“It’s definitely a big win,” Djokovic told reporters. “A match that I will remember for a long time.”
On this form, Andy Murray will need to produce something extraordinary to oust Djokovic in the semifinals. Murray, who passed a significant test himself by topping 2013 finalist David Ferrer for the first time on clay, has lost seven in a row to his childhood pal.
Djokovic stretched at the net to reach a Nadal backhand and his forehand turned into an outstanding lob. Nadal chased back and his own defensive lob found the corner but Djokovic retrieved again. Three shots later, Nadal’s attempted forehand drop shot sailed into the net.
Undaunted, Nadal rallied for 4-4. The match was on. But a missed smash when serving at 5-6, 30-15 proved costly, and Djokovic took the pivotal opener on his sixth set-point.
“The first set was very decisive,” Djokovic’s co-coach Marian Vajda told reporters.
Once Djokovic broke for 5-3 in the second, Nadal unraveled.
The 14-time grand slam winner said this week the nerves that affected him early in the season had largely dissipated, yet his confidence is still clearly lacking. Not winning a European clay-court tournament entering Paris for the first time since 2004 knocked back the Mallorcan and saw his French Open seeding drop to sixth.
“I’m going to come back next year and I’m going to try to be competitive, try to be better prepared than this year and try to arrive with a little bit more good confidence,” he said.
Nadal succumbed quickly in the third, his fate all but sealed when Djokovic struck a net-cord winner for a 3-0 double-break advantage.
“Obviously he didn’t serve that well, especially in the second and third set,” said Djokovic. “He made some unforced errors that are not characteristic for him maybe from the forehand.
“But that’s what happens when you don’t feel comfortable on the court.”
Djokovic topped Murray in the Australian Open final after looking out of sorts physically in the third set. With the temperature expected to hit the low 30s Celsius on Friday and Djokovic at times wilting in the heat, those steamy conditions may aid the twice grand slam champion. Home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka contest the other semi.
After a patchy spell in the second, third and fourth rounds at Roland Garros, Williams is well on her way to a 20th grand slam title.
