Resumption of the Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal rivalry will get an earliest possible start in 2016, as they are set to square off at their first tournament of the year. The Doha title will be at stake when Djokovic and Nadal meet again on Saturday.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be squaring off for the 47th time in their careers when they clash in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Saturday.
The head-to-head series is all tied at 23-23 following Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-3 victory in the semis of the World Tour Finals. Nadal was once borderline dominant in this rivalry, but Djokovic has turned the tide in a major way to draw level. The Serb has won four in a row and eight of their last nine encounters. Nadal has not defeated the world No. 1 on a hard court since the 2013 U.S. Open title match, a span of five such matches.
While both players were considerable favorites to reach this final when the draw was revealed, neither did so with complete ease. Djokovic delivered consecutive 6-2, 6-2 destructions of Dustin Brown and Fernando Verdasco before things got trickier. The top seed recovered from a break down in three straight sets, beating Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 7-5 and staging a first-set comeback against Tomas Berdych to prevail 6-3, 7-6(3).
Nadal survived a pair of three-setters, outlasting fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 and Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The fifth-ranked Spaniard also scored wins at the expense of Robin Haase (6-3, 6-2) and Illya Marchenko (6-3, 6-4).
“To be back in a final is always a great feeling, especially the first week of the season,” Nadal assured. “For sure (it) is important for me for my confidence, (to) confirm that the end of 2015 season had been something realistic and this beginning of 2016 I am still playing well, so [I’ve] already won four matches here and [am] in the final.”
“I guess it’s a pretty important match tomorrow; let’s see what happens,” Djokovic said following his semifinal victory over Berdych. “It’s been a long rivalry. It’s an exciting challenge for both of us.”
Although Nadal has not been a challenge for Djokovic of late, the 14-time major champion was a shadow of his real self throughout 2015. This one should be far more competitive than their four most recent showdowns, but Nadal is not quite ready to turn the rivalry back in his favor–at least not on this surface.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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The commentator said that Rafa has the right shot going DTL, but short. He’s not getting enough length and Novak can just do anything with the ball from there. He’s in control.
Ah, hadn’t noticed.
That’s why they get paid the big bucks.
That’s because Rafa is playing from so far behind the baseline! He’s effectively reverting to clay court tennis!
Where have all the improvements gone?? I wonder how Rafa feels now, probably resigned and accepts the loss. Worst ever hammering since the 2007 Paris Masters hammering by Nalby.
lucky gets it
Commies saying Rafa’s DTL was right shot but too short.
Just realizing this now.
I said it after the first three games of the match.
Not rocket science.
#BetweenTheEars
Another 2nd serve ROS that lands in the service box.
How many times???
I can tell this is hard for Rafa. I can see it in his face. He doesn’t want to keep getting embarrassed by Novak.
I don’t understand why he keeps hitting short against Novak. That’s like the kiss of death.
This is like a practice session for Novak.
I can.
You can what?
understand.
So why is Rafa hitting short against Novak? Oh, lack of confidence!
The light dawns!
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…
hawkeye,
What are you saying? Could you be more explicit? 🙂
Novak is really enjoying this. A DTL backhand from him to make it 30-40.
Novak is just standing on the baseline hitting forehands and backhands, running Rafa back and forth.
Novak breaks.
Well lets hope Novak has peaked too early :D. He can only go down from here. Is there any phase after the acceptance phase in the five stages of grief
In a twisted way, a beatdown might be just the wake up call Rafa needs.
Commie just admitted he fist pumped when Nole just got the double break.
Federazzi sucks.
Oh I don’t think it’s a case of Novak peaking too early. I think it’s a case of Novak picking up right where he ended in 2015.
This is going to be the most lopsided loss for Rafa yet against Novak.
Really hard to watch.
OMG, I really dislike this federazzi commentator.
Just another Nole bandwagon passenger.
Actually they are stupid to rejoice over Rafa’s defeat as no one else could now stop Novak from surpassing Fed and his records.
I think their prime concern was Rafa as he was (is still) much closer than Nole.
Fed is a real contender for more slams despite what everybody says.
Just needs someone to upset Nole (which can happen) or even beat him on a bad day (like Wawa did in Paris.
At least the commentators seem to be really enjoying this.
I am watching this and I cannot believe the scoreline.
Federazzi commies are giggling like crazy. All giddy about this.
So Rafa wins and makes it 5-2. Now Novak will serve for the match.
Someone said something to Rafa from the stands and Rafa replied “Do you want be my coach?” according to the federazzi commentator.
Anyways, full credit to Nole. He showed up.
You can only play whoever is on the other side of the net.
That was a rather brusque and curt handshake at the net.
Congratulations to Rafa on earning more points in Doha than he did last year! Vamos Rafa !
And congratulations to Nole who extended his lead over Rafa and everybody else by another 100 whopping points having not played Doha last year because of the flu.
Oh my God! They are showing the stats and Rafa’s serving stats are just awful. Winning 48% of first serve points?