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5/16/08 10:56 PM | Cheryl Murray
For Novak Djokovic, it shows how far he has come since last year at this time, when he was ousted in the quarters by Carlos Moya. Nobody has threatened Nadal's ranking for 147 weeks.
For Nadal, it signals precisely how much damage a blister can do. Nadal was the three time defending champion in Rome, but a nasty blister on the ball of his foot hampered his movement enough against Juan Carlos Ferrero to send him packing in the second round.
Nadal holds a 6-3 edge over Djokovic, though Djokovic won their last meeting quite easily in Indian Wells 6-3, 6-2. As expected, Djokovic has never beaten Nadal on clay. He has not, in fact, ever taken a set off Nadal on the dirt. They have played at the last two French Opens and also last year in Rome, where Nadal completely dominated.
While Djokovic is undoubtedly better on hard courts than Nadal, Nadal is still superior on clay. Nadal moves better, and the heavy topspin he puts on his forehand is quite effective at forcing his opponent out of position. Djokovic is not a particularly hard hitter (though he does well enough with his forehand), but he excels at making his opponent change direction. Nadal's superior movement and his ability to track down balls that would ordinarily be winners will neutralize that particular aspect of the Serb's game. Djokovic might be able to sneak a set from Nadal, but in the end, the better clay court player should triumph. Nadal in three.
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What an odd (stupid) comment! 6:4 6:2 for Novak! Wanna bet?
rafa in straight sets but the sets will be tight!!
marijanahood !!! i can place a bet on rafa!!!! hes gona triumph in 2 sets over novak.We will witness alot of classic rallies but the clay king dominating most of them.Nadal just has to mix up his shots a bit,e.g he often becomes predictable wid cross-court shorts al the time.But he is too strong for nole,two very tight sets nadal to triumph.6-4 7-5!!!!!!
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!! 7-5 6-4
i wouldn't even be surprised if Nadal even wins in less than 2 full sets, although hopefully Djoker will last the whole time.
Vamos.
I'm looking forward to this so much. What better way to put Djokovic back in his place, by taking away his chance at the No. 2 ranking and giving him a beating in tomorrow's SF. I hope I get to watch. It will be a thrill!!! Rafa in straight sets!!
unfortunately,i won't have a chance to watch the match as none of the tv channels in my country bothers to give this match but i hope rafa will give novak a clay court lesson.
RickyDimon- you're right.there is always a possibility that novak will quit the match when he understands that he would lose.
he, he,
This is IT for BOTH of them! Without any injury...its still Rafa, handsdown! This is the first time in recent memory that the #2 position become a great deal in this sport or in any other sport for that matter. If Novak wins, he will not hold it for a long time though. Let's just hope he will not feel DIZZY this time!
unfortunately, I won't be able to watch this match too..but still...Novak we are with you!
Hope you win...
Samo napred Nole,zatvori usta svima koji su pisali pre mene! Najbolji, sa srecom!
good stuff so far
Djoker had a 3-0 lead but Rafa got it right back to 3-3
if you're going to come in against Nadal you have to hit FLAWLESS approach shots, and Djoker is not doing that
what's happening? 6-2 by djokovic? i can't watch the match so,somebody tell me: is it nadal's playing bad or djokovic's playing the clay court game of his life?
both playing well - Nadal just made a few UEs in the second - hadn't been making any before then
Nadal is up a break in the 3rd though - kind of restoring order. Djoker's only real hope is to be on fire, and the moment he is only playing pretty well.
this is great - amazing match with Nadal holding onto #2; he'll be tired and will therefore lose to Federer tomorrow, thus making Federer fans once again delusional into thinking he can win Roland Garros, and Nadal will once again trounce him in the RG final!!!!
i was almost having a heart attack while following the match from the internet on the scoreboard.but once again,nadal made me happy.
i hope he will be fit tomorrow for roger.
i became a die hard rafa fan after last year's wimbledon final because i admired his play and ambition in that match.
after this match,i respect novak more and more as he managed to challenge one of the greatest claycourters of all time on clay.
The match between Rafa and Novak is probably the best that I've seen between the two in as many matches that they've played 2gether. The intensity & quality of tennis is @ the highest level. I've never seen the second position so contested at this kind of excitement. It's just difficult to keep up with Nadal in a match going more than 3 hours. They just gave the sport quite a strong booster! They both gave their best to win the match!
Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal
ATP Masters Series Hamburg
Did you know that... Pete Sampras $43 280 489 takes him to the top of the prize money list.
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