Nadal Beats Djokovic To Closes On Semi-finals Berth

© Getty ImagesRafael Nadal has a 2-0 record in Group A.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal closed on a semi-final berth at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Wednesday as he recorded his second win of the week with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic in a rematch of the US Open final.

The Spaniard, who failed to win a round-robin match at The O2 last year, improved to a 2-0 record at the top of Group A, having beaten Andy Roddick in three sets on Monday. Nadal is bidding to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title for the first time, after semi-final showings in 2006-2007 (l. to Federer both times).

Should Nadal beat Tomas Berdych in a repeat of the Wimbledon final in his next match on Friday afternoon, he will finish atop Group A with a 3-0 record. Djokovic, the 2008 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals champion, will challenge Roddick in the evening with all still to play for.

“For me [it] was a very important victory because my level was high another time; [I was] playing very well in the first set especially,” said Nadal. “For sure [it] is a very important victory for the group because I am in a good position.”

In their first match since Nadal completed the career Grand Slam with victory over Djokovic in the US Open final, both players missed chances to break serve in the early exchanges before Nadal outsmarted his Serbian opponent in a net exchange to break through in the fifth game. However, with both players struggling to rein in their unforced errors, Djokovic immediately drew level as Nadal shanked a backhand wide in the following game.

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After saving a break point in the seventh game as Nadal hooked a forehand long, Djokovic received treatment for a problem with the contact lens in his right eye. It was a problem that would plague and frustrate the Serb for the rest of the match. Nadal benefitted from a seventh backhand unforced error from the Belgrade native to break and lead 6-5, before fending off three break point chances for Djokovic to close out a one-set lead.

The 23-year-old Djokovic received more treatment from the doctor at the sit down, but was still struggling to keep his focus at the start of the second set and a spate of unforced errors from the right-hander contributed to Nadal racing to a 4-0 lead. From there, the nine-time Grand Slam champion went on to wrap up victory in one hour and 52 minutes.


“I am really happy how I played because the serve worked much better, especially in the first set,” reflected Nadal. “The forehand, I played with less mistakes than the other day, with better rhythm. I think was a big change from the first day, the first match, between this one. That's very good news and I'm very happy for that.”

Nadal improved to a 69-9 match record on what has been a phenomenal season for the Mallorcan left-hander. He has won seven tour-level titles, including three Grand Slams at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, and said Wednesday he could not have imagined such fortune after his turbulent 2009.

“The year was fantastic for me and to finish the season playing well here, like today, is very positive news for me. The image of last year was not one of my best. And for sure I really wanted to change that.

“I am happy because [even if] I do not qualify for the semi-finals, the image is completely different this year than last year. For sure the season was the best season of my career.  I win the last three Grand Slams, I win in Monte-Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Tokyo. [It] was something impossible to imagine for me last year when I was playing here."

Djokovic spoke about the disappointment of having his contact lense cause him such annoyance during the match. “I really feel sick talking about it…  it never happened to me in my life. I'm just really annoyed that something like this can really affect the match.  My right eye got irritated, and from 5-all I could not play. I could not see a ball, especially the return. It was just terrible. I will try to see a doctor and see if there is something more serious going on and in two days hopefully I can be ready.

“I know I'm in the tournament. It's not that I think everything is lost. It's far away from that.  I know I'm still in the tournament. I have big chances to qualify. It's just that these things make me very angry.”