Be careful what you wish for.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal campaigned after last week’s two rainouts to have the U.S. Open switch the men’s final from yesterday to today to give his side of the draw a day off.
Instead of playing four straight days, Rafa got yesterday off to prepare for No. 1 Novak Djokovic in today’s 4 p.m. Open Final.
But the extra day may work in Djokovic’s favor. The Serbian superstar got yesterday to get over his wild, emotional, five-set triumph over Roger Federer when he rose from the dead twice — at two-sets down and again at 5-3, double-match point in the fifth set.
Djokovic has owned Nadal this year and Nadal’s best chance may have been getting the top seed on an emotional letdown. The second-seeded Nadal had a much easier road than Djokovic in Saturday’s semifinals, beating Andy Murray, winning the first two sets and locking it down in four. Plus, Nadal barely broke a sweat Friday in a straight-set quarterfinal slaughter of Andy Roddick.
“For me be in a final of Grand Slam and have one day off in the middle, I think is a very positive news for me, because I played three matches in a row,” Nadal said after beating Murray.
We will see today if it is positive news for Nadal as the Open plays its fourth straight Monday men’s final, but the first one that could have been avoided out of consideration for the weekend’s ticketholders. By rearranging the final four days of play, ticket-holders for Friday, Saturday and Sunday had to completely rearrange their schedules on 9/11 weekend.
Nadal has lost five straight times to Djokovic this year, all in finals. Last year’s Open final, won by Nadal, seems like it happened a decade ago. Nadal said his problems have been more mental than physical against Djokovic, who will try to become just the sixth man to win three Slam titles in the same calendar year in the Open Era. A victory today could earn him the unofficial status of weaving the greatest men’s tennis year ever.
After the Wimbledon loss to Djokovic, Nadal admitted Djokovic is in his head. Still is.
“I am not very happy about my mental performance against him this year,” Nadal said. “Because for moments I really didn’t believe 100 percent with the victory. That’s a big problem. [My] chances are much less than if you believe. That’s what I’m going to try to change Monday.”
Nadal’s problem is his style mimics Djokovic’s, except for Nadal being left-handed. Nadal does everything Djokovic does, but the Serbian does it better. Neither player has a serve-and-volley game.
Speedy court coverage, consistency and stamina are Nadal’s assets. Now Djokovic is the better baseline defender and best service-returner in tennis. Not to mention pressure player — evidenced by Djokovic’s service return on Saturday when faced with double-match point against Federer — a crosscourt missile that will go down as one of the great shots in tennis history, especially if he wins today.
“I don’t have words to describe,” Nadal said of The Shot. “Novak this year is playing fantastic level mentally obviously, and he won few matches that in normal conditions he’s supposed to lose.”
Djokovic’s inflamed shoulder has not given him trouble at the Open and Nadal hasn’t given him trouble recently.
“I know I have the game good enough to win against him,” Djokovic said. “I proved that this year on three difference surfaces. So I believe I have a good chance.”