by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Steve Flink is not only perhaps the pre-eminent tennis historian alive today but also an expert on the greatest tennis matches of all time. Of course, he is the author of the book entitled exactly that “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” (for sale and download here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257936/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_17C06RHP3ZX5NN8VDTRN) After Novak Djokovic’s tremendous win over Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of Roland Garros, I had to, of course, email Flink and get his perspective on what many perceived as being one of the all-time classics. Here is his response.
While watching the telecast I understood the excitement of all the announcers and other prominent people tweeting about what an outstanding match this was between Djokovic and Nadal. And indeed it was. But breaking it down from beginning to end, it was not up there with their epic semifinal at Roland Garros in 2013 when Rafa rallied courageously from a break down in the final set to win it 9-7. Novak had served for a 5-3 lead on that occasion. That was spectacular stuff, as was their Wimbledon semifinal in 2018 when Djokovic stopped Nadal 10-8 in the fifth set in a two day encounter that scaled the heights on both sides of the net. And then, of course, they had their classic contest at the 2012 Australian Open in the final when Djokovic prevailed in five hours and 53 minutes after Nadal served at 4-2, 30-15 in the final set.
This latest showdown was different. Both players were tight in the first set as Rafa soared and established a 5-0 lead before Novak battled back to win three games in a row. At the end of the set, Djokovic raised his game significantly but Nadal was surprisingly tense. He had a couple of set points at 5-1 and another at 5-2 but did not close out either game. At 5-3, Nadal led 40-0 but Djokovic made it back to deuce. So Djokovic saved six set points but Nadal was not in his customary closing mode.
The tennis in the second set was of a higher quality as Djokovic was up 2–0 before Nadal broke back. From 2-2, Djokovic won four of the last five games, most impressively holding his serve for 5-2 from 15-40, saving three points altogether in that game, erasing the last one by winning a brilliantly orchestrated 21 shot exchange. Even when Djokovic served for the third set he was pushed to the hilt by the unbending Spaniard who had two break points. But Djokovic sedulously held on. That set was terrific in the latter stages as Djokovic made it back to one set all.
But the third set may have been the single most gripping and best played set their have ever contested in their magnificent 58 match series which Djokovic now leads 30-28. Both players returned stupendously all through the set and the rallies they produced were breathtaking. Nadal was frequently like a fighter on the ropes but punching back spectacularly time and again. Djokovic broke Nadal for a 3-2 lead but Rafa broke right back.
When Djokovic broke at love for 4-3 and survived a stern test before holding for 5-3, he seemed almost certain to seal the critical third set. But once more Nadal refused to cede any ground. Serving for the set at 5-4, Djokovic built a 30-0 lead but netted an easy forehand off a short return. Nadal unleashed two winners in a row and followed with an unanswerable forehand to get back on level ground at 5-5.
Despite two break points against him in the eleventh game, a spirited Nadal held on for 6-5 and then had a set point with Djokovic serving in the twelfth game. But Djokovic now defiantly stood up to his great adversary and produced an impeccable and gutsy backhand drop shot down the line. Soon they fittingly went to a third set tiebreak which was locked at 3-3. Djokovic connected with a superb angled forehand winner behind Nadal, and then the Spaniard lost a sparkling, pendulum swinging point with an errant forehand volley to make it 5-3 for the Serbian.
Nadal responded with a drop shot winner to close the gap to 5-4, but Djokovic met that critical and propitious moment with majesty. He served an ace down the T ad then scampered forward to retrieve a Nadal drop shot, sending it down the line with good depth and slight underspin to Rafa’s forehand. The Spaniard could not handle that deft shot. Djokovic had taken the tie-break 7-4 to lead two sets to one. That third set was simply out of this world.
When Nadal took a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, it seemed possible that the match would go the distance. But the 13 time French Open champion collected only six more points in losing the last six games to a fresher and more confident player. Djokovic closed out the match in style but Nadal seemed physically depleted toward he end. Perhaps it was his ankle that was ailing but he did not have his usual physical firepower down the stretch. He was not moving nor executing off the ground over the last half hour with the same persuasion he had during the preceding three-and-a-half hours.
There is no doubt in my mind that this collision had stretches of brilliance that neither man has ever exceeded across their astonishing careers. Especially in the third set their backcourt brilliance was mind boggling and riveting. But I can’t place it up there with their absolute greatest battles because it did not measure up from beginning to end to that standard. As I mentioned, the third set may stand alone as the best they have ever thrown at each other. But the first set was not that well played, and the fourth set became a formality for Djokovic who was able to blitz past a beleaguered Nadal. By then the Spaniard was spent.
In the final analysis, this match featured one unsurpassable set that they will probably never replicate, and a lot of remarkable tennis in the second set as well. But the first and fourth sets were in many ways unexceptional. To be sure, this was a splendid victory for Djokovic. He overcame Nadal for only the second time in nine Roland Garros meetings and prevented the Spaniard from moving on to the final and having the chance to win a fifth title in a row.
This was only the third time Nadal has lost a match at Roland Garros and he was going for not only a fourteenth title altogether in Paris but also a record 21st major was beckoning. From the standpoint of Djokovic and his most memorable performances, this victory must be rated very highly. But comparing this match to many of their previous sparklers, the tennis overall from beginning to end was not quite as good, even though the atmosphere and the almost unimaginably dazzling third set will make it forever memorable in our minds.
