Novak Djokovic One Win Away From Historic Achievement

Written by: Staff on 8th June 2012

Novak Djokovic One Win Away From Historic Achievement

epa03255336 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their semi final match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2012. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/06/23/Roland-Garros-Friday-Federer-Djokovic-SF.aspx)

History will be made in Sunday’s Roland Garros final when World No. 1 Novak Djokovic faces No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal. At 25 years of age, Djokovic is bidding to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at one time. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Nadal is looking to become the first man to win seven Roland Garros titles.

For a place in his first Roland Garros final, Djokovic defeated 2009 champion Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 on Friday afternoon in Paris. It was a re-match of the 2011 semi-finals, and saw Djokovic avenge the four-set defeat he had suffered to Federer.

Nadal takes an 18-14 lead over Djokovic in their FedEx ATP Head2Head Series into the final, but has lost their past three Grand Slam meetings. He finished runner-up to the Serb in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open last year before losing a five-set thriller in the final of the Australian Open in January.

After that victory over Nadal in Melbourne, Djokovic is bidding to become the first player since Jim Courier in 1992 to win back-to-back Australian Open and Roland Garros titles. He is on a 27-match winning streak in major competitions, dating back to his defeat to Federer in last year’s semi-finals.

Once the clouds cleared over south-west Paris, the second semi-final began with Federer in confident mood. Moving flawlessly, the Swiss gave Djokovic little time to recover by hitting his forehands early on the rise. The tactic reaped dividends with Djokovic falling to 15/40 at 2-2. Federer converted his second opportunity with a powerful forehand winner, but honours were soon even as Djokovic immediately broke back, to 30, for 3-3. Djokovic had weathered the storm, but Federer continued to flirt with the lines and over-pressed. The third seed fell to 15/40 at 4-5, two set points for Djokovic. The Serbian sealed the 34-minute set when Federer overcooked a forehand long. Djokovic hit 10 winners and committed just three unforced errors.

Federer continued to be aggressive, winning a 36-shot rally when Djokovic led 40/30 in the first game of the second set. The Swiss went onto convert a break point opportunity by hitting a smash winner. He soon took a 3-0 lead, to leave Djokovic breathing a little heavier, after a second service break to 30. But the World No. 1 responded, recovering to 2-3, to keep the pressure on. Federer could have made it 5-2, but failed to convert three break point chances. Would it cost him? It did. Federer initially became tentative and his forehand unforced error count increased. The pair exchanged service breaks, before Federer served for the set at 5-4. Djokovic held his nerve and won three straight games, converting his second set point chance when Federer ballooned a forehand long. Federer won 14 of his 35 service points in the 53-minute set, while Djokovic hit 11 winners and converted four of his five break point opportunities.

Federer paid the price for a spate of missed first serves in the sixth game. He recovered from 15/40, but Djokovic converted his third break point chance as Federer buried a forehand in the net. The 30-year-old Federer made Djokovic serve it out and the Serb opens up a 40/15 lead in the ninth game with a remarkable backhand passing shot. The Belgrade native missed his first match point with a forehand long, but converted his second opportunity with an unreturned serve. He claimed victory after two hours and five minutes, having hit 27 winners and capitalised on 46 unforced errors from Federer’s racquet.

Federer was looking to reach the Roland Garros final for the sixth time. He completed the career Grand Slam with victory in 2009 (d. Soderling) and lost out to Nadal in the finals in 2006-2008 and 2011. The Swiss has won a record 16 Grand Slam championships, but has not triumphed at a major since the 2010 Australian Open (d. Murray).

Topics: 10sballs.com, French Open, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Roland Garros 2012

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