Great Nole!
The Serbian is clearly exhausted from the fatigue he endured during the last few weeks, but he found his way through the final in Toronto. The match with Janko wasn’t as easy as Nole had to play 2 matches in the previous day to be on court almost 4 hours. Today Tpisarevic wasn’t also in great form, but he had more fuel in the tank and in a way he lost an opportunity.
After several rain delays, Nole won the first set 6-4. It was in this opening set when Janko lost his chances as Djokovic couldn’t really push on the accellerator to just try to put a long ball in. Janko tried not to give angles to Novak. This was a correct strategy with a “normal Nole”, but it may have been a wrong one as the world no.2 would have bigger problems in running around the court in that condition.
After wining the first set, Nole had a better command of the second to win it at 1. Unfortunately for Djokovic it wasn’t an easy 6-1 as the set lasted other 45 minutes.
So Nole was dead tired, but how did he make it? First Tipsarevic wasn’t as fresh either, but he lacked a bit of strategy and he didn’t manage to move Nole around the court. Second Nole was once again more “mature” during the important points to save 7 break points out of 7 and to convert 3 out of 6. The biggest difference was that when Nole had to take a point he was going for it. Janko couldn’t.
“It really could have gone either way, especially in the first set with the several interruptions because of rain; it was very important for both of us to start off well after those delays. You could feel that there was a lot of tension going on and we both were trying to find the rhythm on the court.”
Tomorrow Nole will play a very inspired Gasquet.
Djokovic commented : “Richard has been playing well this week. He wants to step into the court tomorrow and have nothing to lose and is motivated and wants to win. I expect a tough match.”
Head to Head is 6-1 for Nole. He does not lose a set with Gasquet since 2007.
If Richard can hold his nerves in the final he has a chance against a worn out Djokovic.
