NOVAK DJOKOVIC DEFEATS RAFA NADAL –AGAIN– TO SET UP INDIAN WELLS TENNIS FINALS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN AGAINST MILOS RAONIC BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 19th March 2016

NOVAK DJOKOVIC DEFEATS RAFA NADAL --AGAIN-- TO SET UP INDIAN WELLS TENNIS FINALS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN AGAINST MILOS RAONIC BY RICKY DIMON

epa05221512 Novak Djokovic from Serbia in action against Rafael Nadal from Spain during their semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 19 March 2016. Djokovic won 7-6 (5), 6-2. EPA/MIKE NELSON |

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal for the sixth time in a row in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday afternoon. Djokovic has now taken 13 consecutive sets from Nadal, as well, following a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. The world No. 1 needed one hour and 58 minutes to book his spot alongside Milos Raonic in the title match.

On the bright side for Nadal, this one was unlike their five previous meetings in that he at least had a chance. In fact, the Spaniard had multiple opportunities in the first set. He earned a break right away, and even after giving it back he eventually got a look at a set point with Djokovic serving at 4-5, 30-40. But the Serb managed to hold and ultimately force a tiebreaker, at which point Nadal’s serve and forehand let him down.

Two breaks for Djokovic in the second set were more than enough to get the job done.

“I think I played well for a set and a half,” Nadal assessed, “(and) then I think he played well the last. I played bad again with my serve [at] 3-2 (in the second), and then he finished playing well the last two games; played at (a) high level.”

Djokovic fired 23 winners to Nadal’s 12 despite making only three more unforced errors. The top seed managed to break three times even though his opponent served at 80 percent.

“I’m just glad to overcome this challenge that is one of the greatest in sport, as (it) always is playing against Rafa,” Djokovic noted. “I’m taking the positives out of today’s performance and hoping that I can finish off this tournament tomorrow with another great performance.”

Although Nadal’s tournament has come to an end, it was still a productive fortnight–and one that could have ended much sooner. The world No. 5 needed three sets to survive his opener against Gilles Muller and he even saved a match point during a fourth-round thriller against Alexander Zverev.

Rafael Nadal from Spain in action against Novak Djokovic from Serbia during their semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 19 March 2016. EPA/PAUL BUCK

“I think I played well during the week,” Nadal commented. “I won very interesting matches–good ones, fighting. Today was closer than the last couple of times against the best player of (the) world, so (it) was a very positive week for me. [I’m] gonna try to follow this way, to keep going with this level. If I am able to play weeks in a row at this level, then you start to think about the chances to compete for everything.”

As for Djokovic, he will be competing for yet another title on Sunday against Raonic. The 14th-ranked Canadian booked his spot in the final by holding off David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 earlier on Saturday.

“It’s a difficult matchup,” Raonic assured. “I think that I have added good things to my tennis that can help me in that aspect. It’s going to be important to control the center of the court; obviously be the one that’s moving less.

“I think if I can play with a forceful attitude like I did in the third (against Goffin), I can have my opportunities. I think for me my game-plan is simple: it’s about dictating. I don’t think it’s so much about who’s on the other side of the net.”