by Philipina A. Marcelo
After those nerve-wrecking, energy-zapping, killer semi-final matches in the Aussie Open men's singles, I was preparing for the "worst" in the final match between World #1, Novak Djokovic, and World #2, Rafael Nadal. Djoker emerged winning a physically punishing five-set, close to five-hour, 'contest of wills and firepower' with British #1, Andy Murray the day before. Nadal, on the other hand, pushed the 16-time Grand Slam winner, Roger Federer, out of the contest in their four-set 'war of wills and tennis tactics' two days back. It was going to be Djoker and Nadal's third meeting in a row in a Grand Slam final... the first two:
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal...
all set to make history. Game on!Wimbledon and US Open last year, both claimed by the Serb. He also snatched the #1 in the World spot in the men's singles ranking from the Spaniard on his way to claiming his first Wimbledon cup.
Both men suffered from physical problems here and there on their way to the first Major of the season in the Land Down Under. Except for a knee problem scare a week before the Aussie Open, Nadal seemed to have regained health and speed since their slugfest in Flushing Meadows, while Djokovic didn't seem to be suffering from any major problem, except for little allergy complaints here and there. So, yeah, both men in great shape, physically and mentally, both reaching the final via incredible semi-finals. Therefore, I was sure it was going to be explosive, and it could easily mess up my recovery from flu... but I didn't want to miss out. So, I elected to tough it out rather than regret missing a potential classic!
Let's do another "as it happened" - sort of. Here goes...
They're on... meeting at the net, briefed by Chair Umpire. Djokovic won the toss and he elected to serve the first canonball. Alright, good luck, gentlemen... may the toughest prevail!
***
FIRST SET.... and they hit the ball running!
First point to Djoker, which he cancelled out with an error... and another error, 15-30. Big Djoker forehand there that Nadal failed to chase... one more, which Nadal returned wide, 40-30... big serve, and shove his service game in the bag. Nadal opened his service game with an ace, whew! An error from Djoker made him go on a deep thought over the Nadal topspin, which he didn't seem to figure out 'cause he
The Djoker, taking off to a blazing start.returned a Nadal serve long. Another ace... and the Spaniard put his service game in the bag! Djoker's turn... Nadal kept his shots low, forcing Djoker to commit error on his serve, 0-15. A big winner from Rafa Nadal, just a couple of inch from the sideline, 0-30. Big serve and a follow up, 15-30. An ace, challenged by Nadal, but call stayed, 30-30. Big winner... and a swagger - from Djoker, 40-30. Nice serve and a follow-up, and Djoker held.
At 15-15, on Nadal's serve, a huge rally erupted, drawing ooohs and aaahs for those acrobatic moves from both... and Nadal prevailed! The Majorcan followed up with an ace, and another one, 4-4. Djoker returned to the baseline by opening with an ace, too! Whoa! Testosterone alert! A nice Djoker shot that Nadal returned wide... and then a beautiful winner from Nadal, 30-15! Fantastic return from Rafa Nadal, 30-30. Djoker retaliated with an ace, which he quickly cancelled out with a forehand sent just wide, deuce! Awesome rally - a volley from Djoker, chased by Nadal, which he sent back to the corner in a drop shot, picked up by Djoker... and then sent to the sideline by Nadal in a magnificent winner! Aaaawww! The big point was quickly cancelled out by a return of serve sent long - ow! Back to deuce. Another swing of points, a poor follow up from Djoker, back to deuce. A BIG RALLY, Djoker blinked first, advantage Nadal! An error from Djoker - a costly one. And Nadal broke the Djoker serve, 3-2! Fist pump! Game on!
Enraged at himself, Djoker peeled off his shirt and smashed his racquet - the heat is on so early in the match! Nadal opened with a supposed ace, which was called out, and he disputed, he won, 15-0. Another blow to the Djoker ego right there. But the Serbian forced Nadal to commit an error, 15-15... and quickly cancelled out his effort with an error
The Majorcan warrior, came on sprinting...
swinging powefully.of his own, 30-15. Nice rally - dropshot from Djoker, picked up by Nadal... and sent by Djoker crosscourt that Nadal cannot chase, 30-30. Nice return of serve, sent by Nadal on top of the net, and over the line - breakpoint for Djoker! Nadal saved it quickly with an ace... an error from Djoker, and an error from Nadal, too! Back to deuce. A fantastic return of serve, laced with topspin, which Rafa Nadal cannot control... advantage Djoker. But Djoker committed a big error... deuce #3. Rafa Nadal followed up with a fine serve and a killer forehand - winner! Djoker retaliated with a smashing return of serve - back to deuce! A 173-kph serve from Nadal... and then a brilliant crosscourt volley - winner from Djoker - and it was deuce #5! A Nadal ace, followed by a Djoker error... and Nadal held, 4-2. Whew! I thought the whole match would just freeze there - at deuce! A great serve and a follow up from Djoker, which he quickly cancelled with a running shot just wide. A nice serve and a beautiful follow up sending the ball on the opposite side where Rafa just regained his balance to return the ball, 30-15. Terrible squeaks of rubber against the floor, and Djoker killed a shot in a mini rally, followed up with an ace - the beautiful Djoker eyes blazing now, 4-3! Man, I'm loving these Djokovic-Nadal matches... at least, I do not have to stress out as I would if Federer was on the opposite end of the court of either of these great athletes here Let's do this more often, fellas! Cheers!
Nadal served with new balls now. Djoker drew the first point out of the Nadal serve. A swing of points, and it was 30-30. Nadal squeezed one in, which Djoker sent to the net, 40-30. Djoker forced an error out of the Nadal forehand with a well-calculated backhand, followed with a similar ploy on the next point using forehand this time, and it was breakpoint. Rafa quickly returned into his service game with a fine shot and a point back, which he cancelled out with an error. He quickly amended that with an ace... but couldn't control a big Djoker forehand, resulting in another Djoker breakpoint... a big return of serve and a follow-up, and Djoker broke back on his third try, 4-4! Whew! Two big rallies on Djoker serve,
Focus, intensity... power!both won by Nadal in tremendous points! Djoker got lucky in the next turn, forcing an error from Nadal! BIG RALLY - scary ball hitting from both players! I do not have the heart for this killer shotmaking, fellas! Let up! Djoker prevailed via Nadal error! Whew! A fine serve and a fantastic follow-up... another one, and Djoker held, 5-4! Wow! A Serbian swagger, a Spaniard bitchface.... and the Rod Laver Arena shook.
Nadal came back with a terrific service game, forcing Djoker to commit errors.... and he finished with a big winner, 5-5! Djoker went back on the baseline for his own service game... two big points, one equaled by Nadal by forcing a Djoker error, and then Nadal banged in a winner with a nicely set-up shot, 30-30! And then, with a miscalculated shot that was punished by Nadal, the Mallorcan earned a breakpoint! Nadal broke Djoker for the second time in the set with a great shot, 6-5! Nadal took his chance to close the first set... beautiful shots, one after another, from Nadal... a tremendous crosscourt winner later, and he had two set points! Djoker came back, forcing error off Nadal - successfully, and it was deuce! Whew! A big error from an angled shot by Djoker, and Nadal earned a set point. And then, on the 80th minute, Nadal struck a big serve to win the set... and the right to scream a big scream of relief for drawing the first blood in the championship match!
Whew! What the heck? Don't tell me that was only the first set! Huh.... dang, it was!
***
SECOND SET...
Djoker opened with a bang, and another one, and then a flop, 30-15. A rally, which was won by Djoker via an error from Rafa... a fun exchange, with the point conceded by Djoker, and then an ace to save his service game, 0-1. Rally, rally, and Nadal conceded two points to Djoker on his serve, 0-30. Nadal gunned for a big serve returned wide by Djoker... and exchange of shots, and Djoker prevailed - two breakpoints
Energy, precision... domination!for the Serb. Huge rally - again - Nadal saved one, and another, served up an ace, and he was up. An error from Nadal and it was back to deuce... two aces, and he saved his service game, 1-1. Djoker served big, claiming the first point with a terrific winner right at the corner in a huge rally! An ace, and an error from Djoker, and it was 30-15. At this point, I got lulled into trance by the mesmerizing bounce of the ball, I left the iPad on my sickbed while I stood up to get a better view of the TV screen... before I got absolutely electrified by a beautiful winner from a Nadal backhand - down the corner! It was 30-30 on Nadal serve... And then, all of a sudden, Djoker broke via Nadal errors, 1-3! Haaaaaaah, this is a gruelling, gruelling match... even just to watch it! Yaikks!
Djoker opened with two incredibly big points, one of which nullified by Nadal... ok, make that two with an awesome point won by Nadal in a mini rally! Whoa! The Spaniard is not giving up! Djoker then squeezed out an error from Nadal via a big forehand sent at the corner that Nadal could not return... and then one more of that, and he saved his service game, 1-4. Dang, this is fantastic tennis, I swear! Mesmerized again for a while... I lost track of the score. Woken up by a great Nadal winner, on his serve, at 5-2, 15-30... Nadal pushed Djoker back and then hit a fantastic winner on the corner, 30-30. Later a big controversy, at 40-30, Djoker returned a Nadal serve in a big way, which Rafa thought was out. Nadal challenged the call more than five seconds after the point was played and Djoker protested to the Chair Umpire with a, " he can't do that." But the Chair Umpire insisted Rafa can... but the
String sting...zing!eagle eye showed the Djoker return was in - deuce. A vindicated stare from Djoker, a wince from Rafa! Dang, drama! A couple of 'deuce-advantage whoever' swings, and Nadal finally saved his service game. Whew!
Djoker then opened his service game swinging powefully, two points won right away, one of which was equalized by Nadal with a fine shot, 30-15. And then Djoker issued a beautiful drop shot after pushing Nadal far back behind the baseline - awesome winner! But Nadal retaliated with big winners of his own, deuce! Oh, god, how will this end??? And then Nadal won a big point via a fantastic crosscourt volley, breakpoint for the Spaniard! And then Djoker double faulted, and Nadal broke the Djoker serve, 4-5! Dang, this is fantastic tennis drama right here! My heart is not healthy enough for this, pleeeeaaase, let up! Hmmm... actually, it's awesome!
Nadal serves to go even on games in the second set. After a Djoker error, at 30-30, Nadal served up an ace, 40-30. But Djoker banged in a winner, which Rafa challenged, to successfully win back the point... deuce! An ace and an error from Rafa through a Djoker forehand, and a Djoker backhand winner and the Serb had a breakpoint... and then, Djoker won the game - and the set, with the awesome men taking one set a piece! Whew! A helluva match this one is! And I ask again, how will this end??
***
THIRD SET...
Djoker opened with a no-nonsense game, winning it in a straight forward, I'm-here-to-win-this stance. Alright then, you're on, Djokerface!!! Rafa took to the baseline... rally, both men grunting. Oh, well... at this point, so, what's new? Nadal prevailed with a shot sent long by Djoker. Mesmerizing tennis... I went on an involuntary trance, I just can't write anything - too overcome by awe, amazement, emotion... until Djoker prevailed, 6-2! Oh, dear! What now, Rafa??
***
FOURTH SET...
Djoker opened with a big return of serve from Nadal. A big rally, great, great shots from both - I solemnly swear... and then a fantastic winner from Djoker, 15-15! More great points, at 40-30, big rally... and Djoker was forced to commit an error, deuce! Another rally, Djoker prevailed... another rally, Rafa prevailed, deuce! Whew! Djoker held. Rafa took his turn... Long rally as soon as the ball was hit - awesome! Rafa sent a big winner at the baseline... only
Djoker, fighting back, asserting himself... forcefully! to cancel it out with a miscalculated shot of Djoker's return of serve. And then Djoker took too much time to unleash a ferocious backhand to punish a Nadal volley - and he missed! Whoa! Rally... Nadal's turn to send a big backhand wide! Oh, gosh! Nadal unleashed an ace, 40-30, only to commit an error next, deuce! Nadal pushed Djokovic to the corner and then rushed to smash a Djoker return to send it crosscourt, he went up a point. Fist pump!! The Spaniard then struck while the iron was hot with an ace! A Majorcan scream, a Serbian shake of head, 1-1!
Djokovic now... ace after ace after ace, and it was 1-2! Nadal took to the baseline... squeezed in ace, winners and squeezed out errors from Djoker, and he held, 2-2. Djoker took to the baseline... was struck with a Nadal winner up front, 0-15. A nice serve and a blistering forehand for a follow up issued from the Djoker racquet. Mini rally, a pick up by Djoker punished by Nadal with a terrific forehand, 15-30. Djoker drew an error from Nadal, 30-30. An ace and an error from Nadal, and Djoker saved his service game, 2-3. Nadal put on a punishing service game, asserting himself with winners and squeezing out errors from Djoker... saving his service game, 3-3. Djoker took to the baseline, sending in great first serves for an easy hold, 3-4. Djoker drew the first point off the Nadal serve... before we realized what was happening, Djoker took three breakpoints, 0-40! Big rally, and Nadal unleashed the most ferocious
Calm, tight grip... power!forehand the world has ever seen to send the ball down the corner with a matching scream, beyond Djoker's reach! An ace and an error from Djoker, and it was deuce! Imagine??? Nadal hit two aces in a row... and he saved his service game!!! A muscled fist pump struck the thickly heated air, and a Majorcan growl reverberated in the Rod Laver Arena, 4-4! By golly wow, what an awesome comeback from Nadal - five points in a row! Are they still playing tennis out there? This looks like something else entirely to me! Seriously!
Djoker taking it to the baseline now... mini rally off his second serve, and then a longer one afterwards... a long return of serve, and it was 40-0. A great rally, corner to corner, both players stretching and sliding... and Djoker chased a big Nadal forehand sent at the corner and punished it to the baseline before Nadal could react - awesome! 4-5... and a terrible tension, something was close to snapping out there!
Rally, rally on Nadal's serve... and Djoker sent a return long, 15-15. Big serve... vamos!!! :) an error from Djoker, and it was 40-15. Whew! Two ferocious forehand shots from Djoker sending the ball crosscourt drew a point off the Nadal serve - 40-30! Rally, rally... a big Nadal forehand, a splitting return from Djoker, which he missed! Aaawwwoooo! A kicking fist pump and a Majorcan scream!! 5-5, gosh! Rain delay! Thank you, dear God... we all need this!
Djoker serving big... and then conceding a point, 15-15. A fantastic forehand from Djoker, sending the ball to the corner, which Nadal cannot control, 30-15... a few more shots, and then rally - Djoker prevailed, and saved his service game! Whoa! These two are not letting up, I tell ya. Whoever wins totally deserves it... I don't care who wins, I'd "worship" whoever does until the day my world ceases to know tennis! I love NoRa Djodal!!! :) Okay, I'm being a terrible fangirl now. Calm.
Nadal took it to the baseline now to serve... he punished the ball whenever the poor thing got into contact with his
Vaaaamooooos!racquet - in an insane amount of power, I imagine, and he secured his service game!
TIE BREAK!! Djoker won the first point... Nadal cancelled it out with a BIG, BIG point! The next point was won by Nadal in a GREAT smash! That took away the wind in the Serbian sail, ya can tell. Rally... Nadal sent a return wide, 2-2! And then it was Djoker's turn to send one long, 3-2! Aw, gosh... this is a punishing, punishing tennis right here! Nadal unluckily sent the ball on top of the net, and bounced ou - luckily for Djoker, 3-3! I can't take it anymore!!!! Nadal sent a return of attack wide... 3-4. Rally... Djoker pushed Nadal to the baseline and then punished the ball with a killer forehand! 3-5... This is sooooo hard to watch!! Rally... Djoker sent one wide, 4-5! Dear God... I can't watch this anymore!! Rally... Djoker committing an error, and a great serve from Rafa, 6-5!! Set point for Nadal - aaawwwooooo! And Djoker sent a return of attack wide... Fist pumps, vamooos!
Nadal won the set... and a lot of unbelieving hearts in the tennis world, 'cause that was surely one incredibly tough way to win a set!
***
FIFTH SET...
Decision, decision, decision... this is "it", whether the men liked it or not - it will have to end here! Good luck to both of them!
Nadal opened with a winner. A nice return of serve, 15-15. Rally, baseline, crosscourt shots, and then Nadal
Calm, comeback... fire!let fly a big forehand, 30-15. An ace.. and a double fault, and then another ace. Man! It feels like Djoker's energy is going down, while Nadal's spiked up. But then Djoker won his service game, too. Uhm, what??? Dang, are we sure these guys aren't mutant - X-men sort of - or something? At 3-2, on Djoker serve, Nadal broke... 4-2. WHOA!!! Vamos!
And then, Djoker broke back, 4-3. WHOA, aaawwoooo! On Djoker's serve, at 0-15, a 25-shot rally broke out, won by Djoker by forcing an error from Nadal... and then Nadal tried to come back with a great return of serve, but failed... two more big points, and Djoker held, 4-4! On Nadal serve, 32-shot rally - say, what?? Nadal oulasted Djoker, 15-0.
Aaaaaaaaaah, it's the fifth set, the ninth game, and it's the fifth hour, and these guys are still engaging each other in a rally - and with punishing shots, too??? Insane, insane, INSANE!!!
Anyway, a Djoker dropshot didn't come in. A big return of serve, 30-15. And then, Nadal sent one
Flying high... for the win!long... so it was 2-2, 4-4, 30-30. Nadal banged in an ace, cancelled out by Djoker with a beast of a return of serve forehand, deuce! Rally... Djoker forced Nadal back, and then unleashed a forehand that was returned by Nadal wide! Waaaaah, insane!!! Nadal came back with an ace, deuce! Gooooosh! I can't take it anymore! Drop shot from Nadal, picked up by Djoker, but he can't make it bounce in, "advantage Nadal," said the Chair Umpire. And then Nadal unleashed a big serve, overpowered by Djoker on return outside the baseline. And Nadal held serve, 5-4. Wow, just incredible!
Alright, that's it, I 'give up'! I cannot take this anymore! Sorry, Rafa, but I'm just going to root for Djoker and get this done and over with! Alright, "let's go, Nole, let's go!"
***
Of course, the minute I started screaming my support for the Djoker, my father, who is my fellow Federer fan in the house was puzzled, 'cause he was kind of leaning towards supporting Nadal after the Spaniard came back in the fourth set to force Djoker into a five-setter... and he sorta expected me to do the same. But, like I said
Legends of the game, today... and always!before, after Federer, it's Djoker who gets my "fangirl-ish" admiration (except when he's uber-acting like a distorted version of Robert de Niro in his villain roles)... until Bernard Tomic decides taking his turn at the top, that is! :)
And so, Novak Djokovic went on to win his third Australian Open title - his third Grand Slam in a row since Wimbledon last year - and his fifth, overall... and he is only 24 years old. The incredible Serb just managed to edge out an equally worthy champion, Rafael Nadal, in a classic Grand Slam final, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5, fought with superhuman efforts and steel will to win from both unbelievably talented men... in 5 hours and 53 minutes - a record!
Seriously, after the match, I cannot help tears from falling... out of awe, excitement, adrenalin, exhaustion, joy... these guys just took tennis some place different. I swear, the sport will never be the same again after this, and it's a GREAT TIME to be a tennis fan! CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU, Nofael Djodal!! You guys are AWESOME... like there haven't been athletes called AWESOME before! Woohoo!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, NOVAK! You deserve to be on top of the men's ranking - salute! FANTASTIC JOB, RAFA, you shine so bright and beautiful even in defeat - heart, heart, heart.
***
Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks!
***
