Madrid Tennis Masters: Djokovic meets Nadal on home turf

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In the final of the Madrid Tennis Masters, world number one Rafael Nadal took on world number two Novak Djokovic. Would the Serb stretch his unbeaten run to 34 matches or would the Spaniard, on his favored clay surface, take his record to 10 victories over Djokovic in 10 attempts on clay.

The defending champion Nadal was looking to extend his run of 37 successive victories on clay, while Djokovic was aiming for his sixth consecutive title to stretch his unbeaten run to 34 matches since the start of the season. The mouth-watering final attracted lots of attention including some one from the football pitch.

Home favorite Nadal made a bumping start, and trailed 3-love in the first set, the Serb matched the Spaniard physically but displayed an extra attacking edge as he powered into a 4-love lead in the opening set.

But the Spaniard would bounce back, at Djokovic's serve at 5-3, Nadal unleashed a barrage of blistering forehands to get the second break back, with the partisan crowd roaring at the prospect of their man finally taking control.

But Nadal still lost the first set in a tie-breaker, 7-5. From there, Nadal showed plenty of fighting spirit and produced his best game of the match, breaking serve at the start of the second set.The clay king brought the crowd to their feet in spectacular fashion with an audacious winning lob hit through his legs as he sprinted back to retrieve a Djokovic lob.

Even his opponent allowed himself a moment to applaud.

But the unbeaten Djokovic showed his superior form on the day, producing three winners to create three match points. Nadal saved the first b! ut was t hen out-rallied from the baseline in the second, and sent a floated backhand wide to give Djokovic the title.It was Djokovic's first win over Nadal on clay in ten attempts.

Novak Djokovic said, "I cannot be more delighted. It's definitely you know, winning against Rafa for the first time on clay courts and it's the perfect place to win it. It's his home town. He had the support of the crowd but you know I always believed from the first moment that I came on the court that I could win and I played great."

Editor:Liu Fang |Source: CNTV.CN


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