Updates: Nadal One Set Away From Historic Win

Rafael Nadal, who is seeking a 13th Roland Garros crown and 100th match win at the clay-court major championship, leads World No. 1 and 2016 titlist Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-0, 6-2 in Sunday's final.

Nadal, who has yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament, is producing a tactical masterclass under a closed roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier, putting Djokovic under pressure in every service game. Nadal won only the second 6-0 first-set in their 56-match rivalry, but needed to save three break points in the fourth game just as Djokovic looked to be finding his way into the 45-minute opener.

Incredibly, the winner of the opening set between Djokovic and Nadal has won 48 of the previous 55 meetings, including the last 13 in a row. Nadal hammered home his advantage in the second set, which lasted 47 minutes, as Djokovic’s unforced error count surged up to 30.

The 34-year-old Nadal is also bidding to capture his 20th Grand Slam trophy, to draw level with all-time men’s singles record-holder Roger Federer (also 20). Djokovic, 33, who has an ATP Tour-leading 37-1 record on the season is attempting to clinch his 18th major crown.

FIRST SET
Djokovic’s slice and drop shot was a real weapon, initially, and he led 40/15 in the opening game, but Nadal played close to the lines and worked his way back to break, courtesy of a backhand wide down the line. Nadal settled, appearing to consistently target Djokovic’s backhand to open up the court. The Spaniard’s early sharpness reaped dividends with a second service break for a 3-0 advantage, when Djokovic hit a crosscourt backhand into the net at 30/40.

In a huge fourth game, Nadal dug deep to save three break points through sheer variation of his groundstrokes, forcing Djokovic each time to run the width of the court. Djokovic led 40/15 in his next service game, but Nadal won four straight points and took a 5-0 lead, with a powerful backhand winner on his third break point.

Interestingly, both times Nadal hit a drop shot in the first set, Djokovic re-dropped and won the point. Djokovic, who set the tone with four drop shots in the first game, hit three of his 11 drop shots in the net. In total, Djokovic seven of 11 points in which he hit a drop shot, while Nadal was 0-2 in first set.

SECOND SET
There was no let up for Djokovic, who won 30 per cent of his first-serve points in the first set and came under extreme pressure in the first game of the second set. He managed to save three break points and it appeared a big psychological hold, but Nadal was ruthless on the run in Djokovic’s next service game at 1-1. A sensational backhand slice winner from inside the service box across Djokovic, who hit a drop shot, gave Nadal a third break point.

Nadal broke when Djokovic struck a backhand into the net and soon took a double-break advantage, with a 4-1 lead after a routine forehand from Djokovic bounced off the net and wide. In the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic’s seventh service game, he did not face a break point for the first time. But Nadal wasn’t to be denied, closing out the 47-minute set on his third set point.

Through two sets, 18 of the 21 drop shots in the match have come off the backhand wing. Nadal has hit three drop shots, and lost all three points. Djokovic won four of seven drop shots in the second set.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/3nAyNUN