Top three Matches of 2011—Nathan’s Blog

Written by: on 21st December 2011
Top three Matches of 2011—Nathan’s Blog  |

By: Nathan M. Cuny

A lot of good matches were played during the 2011 season, but three matches shone brightest. The top three matches of the year included the likes of, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Janko Tipsarevic, and Rafael Nadal. Without surprise the current No.1, Novak Djokovic, was part of the top two matches.

The No.1 match of 2011 took place in Rome at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia Masters 1000 tournament. It wasn’t a finals match but a semifinals match that awed the crowd and overcame all other matches as No.1. The match was lengthy and exhausting as both players fought for points. Andy Murray came close to breaking Djokivic’s 37-match winning streak but failed to do so after Djokovic defeated Murray 6-1, 3-6, 7-6².

Murray took many points with his drop shots and precise ball striking behind the baseline in the second set, after failing to defend himself against Djokovic in the first. It wasn’t until the third set when the match heated up to the point of explosion. Murray served the final set, coming within two points of victory four times. Each time Djokovic prevented Murray from coming through with a match point, gaining the upper hand by converting his third match point after Murray double faulted.

The No.2 match of the year includes Novak Djokovic as well. The match took place at final of the Sony Ericsson Open, in Miami. Djokovic defeated Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 7-6⁴. Nadal lost to Djokovic two weeks prior at the BNP Paribas Open.

Nadal took the first set in a quick 57 minutes after racing to a 5-1 lead, breaking Djokovic’s streak of 41 consecutive service holds at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. Djokovic upped the already intense level of play in the second set with his groundstrokes giving him a swift 3-0 advantage. The final set of the match set the crowd’s and players’ blood on fire as the third set went on to a tie-break—neither player able to create a chance for a break point. Following five small back-to-back breaks, Djokovic gained a 6-2 lead and converted his third match point to win the tournament.

The No.3 match of the year consisted of Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Berdych defeated Tipsarevic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6⁶. Berdych lost two days earlier against Djokovic after committing many unforced errors that lost him the tie-break and the match. Tipsarevic replaced Murray after Murray pulled out of the tournament.

In the first set Berdych committed 11 unforced errors and dropped two of his first three service games. From there on Berdych’s game became aggressive. In the final match Berdych held to love sending the match to a tie-break. Berdych gained the first break at 5-3 and sealed his victory with a forehand after Tipsarevic slipped and fell as he attempted to reach the ball, and again as he lifted himself from the court.

Well, there you have it folks, the matches considered the top three of the 2011. If any readers think otherwise feel free to comment.

Topics:








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.