French Open: Novak Djokovic: "Rafael Nadal played a perfect match"
Novak Djokovic was the big defeated in the final of the French Open yesterday, Sunday. In the press conference after his defeat, world number one Rafael Nadal paid his respects.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 12, 2020, 01:02 pm
"I've never seen Rafael Nadal play tennis so well," said a visibly impressed Boris Becker in the middle of the second set in the Eurosport commentary. What had happened in just under an hour and a half before can easily be described as the Spaniard's demonstration of power. Novak Djokovic, after all the number 1 in the world and unbeaten in the calendar year 2020 by conventional means, needed 54 minutes to write for the first time in this finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier that the 0: 6 in the first round was already inevitable at this point.
Even after the 1-0 in the second set, there was still no sign of a trend reversal. Nadal continued his dominant and at the same time flawless game in an impressive manner - and set 6: 2 in the second act to 2: 0 sets. Novak Djokovic was then granted a little rebellion, in the third round the 17-time Grand Slam champion managed at least one rebreak, but a little later had to accept the new break to 5: 6 and also watch Rafael Nadal inevitably make it 6 : 0, 6: 2 and 7: 5 victory - and minutes later raised the trophy for the 13th time at the Stade Roland Garros.
Nadal with "perfect match"
Novak Djokovic had to admit that in the press conference after the match: "I don't have much to say, except that I was completely outdone by Rafa, the better player on the field. I mean, he made absolutely no mistake and Get every ball back, just played great tactically. " Nadal surprised him with the level he could demonstrate with the tennis he produced in the first two sets. "He's phenomenal, he played a perfect match," said the world number one.
One factor that was a guarantee of success for Novak Djokovic throughout the tournament was his stop ball. A blow that Rafael Nadal was able to defuse in the final in an impressive manner, came to the point almost every time the Serb tried. "Obviously I wanted to break his rhythm a bit with it. But he was prepared, he was there and he was ready. He always played the right stroke today, it was just one of those days when you have to say" Chapeau and well done "" , said the 33-year-old after his clear defeat in the final.
Conditions not really pro-Djokovic
Before the French Open, Novak Djokovic was cautiously assigned the role of favorite because of the new ball and the changed conditions due to the later event in the year, as these factors would rather speak for the man from Belgrade. An assumption that Rafael Nadal clearly classified as untrue in the final. "I also thought that the conditions would be better for me, but Rafa taught us all better. He just played a fantastic match, that's all," said Djokovic.
Only tactically, the Serb could accuse himself of having tried to end the rallies a little hastily every now and then, and did not set up the balls well. "But that was due to his incredible defensive performance. Normally these strokes, which I play after two or three rallies, are a winner against nine out of ten players. But not against him, especially not under these conditions," said the Serb. And so it was, like twelve times before, Rafael Nadal, who was allowed to take home the title at Bois de Bolougne, who celebrated his 20th Grand Slam title.
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