By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 11, 2015
A commanding Novak Djokovic routed Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 6-2, to capture his sixth China Open title and raise his Beijing record to 29-0.
Photo credit: AFP
The sound of Rafa Nadal's Nikes dancing on the Beijing sign squealed with desire as he wristed a wondrous running tweener from behind the baseline in the seventh game.
Anticipating the reply, Novak Djokovic snapped off a smash ending an electric point with an authoritative answer.
The sequence summed up this China Open final. Nadal competed with churning determination, but Djokovic muted the effort and mastered his rival.
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A superb Djokovic beat Nadal to the ball, punished his second serve and called the shots from the baseline in a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory to capture his sixth China Open championship and raise his spotless Beijing record to 29-0.
"I played a great match and great tournament overall," Djokovic said afterward. "It's always a pleasure to play Rafa on the big stages. Hopefully, we can have many more encounters."
Episode 45 of this often rousing rivalry—the most match-ups between men in the Open Era—certainly provided its share of crackling rallies. Djokovic's uncanny ability to land heavy strikes near the lines—and elevate his level of play at critical stages—helped him sustain command. The top seed led from the opening game and imposed a five-game run in the second set to put the match away.
It was Djokovic's second China Open conquest of Nadal in the last three years, following his 6-3, 6-4 sweep in the 2013 final. Since Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2013 US Open final, the 28-year-old Serbian has won seven of their last eight matches producing a level of tennis his rivals cannot match.
Contesting his 12th straight final, the US Open champion collected his eighth title of the season and 56th championship of his career. While Nadal still holds a 23-22 edge in their rivalry, Djokovic has effectively put the nine-time Roland Garros champion in his rear-view mirror.
"He's having one of the most memorable seasons in the history of our sport so congrats to you and all of your team—you have been amazing," Nadal told Djokovic afterward. "For me it, it has been a very positive tournament... I have been improving every match... (with a) lot of positive energy to start next season stronger."
While Nadal should be encouraged reaching his first hard-court final since falling to Djokovic in the 2014 Miami final, the top seed's skill stretching the Spaniard and firing the kill shot must have been demoralizing.
Given Djokovic took the court having won 32 of his last 33 matches in China, the 2005 champion knew a fast start was essential.
The Spaniard's spiking nerve and Djokovic's slashing depth denied it. The 14-time Grand Slam champion has discussed his flagging confidence this season; it's sometimes most glaring in his forehand misses.
The Nadal forehand wasn't as sharp as required at the outset. He mishit a framed forehand for the second time to drop serve in the opening game and narrowly missed a few running forehands in the second game as Djokovic battled back from 0-30 down to consolidate, 2-0.
In the sixth game, Nadal plastered a forehand pass down the line earning double break point, but followed with a pair of errors. A tremendous 22-shot rally, saw Djokovic slide into a drop shot and knife a backhand pass crosscourt. He bolted a serve winner holding for 4-2.
One of the most electrifying exchanges of the tournament followed as Djokovic's lob-volley sent Nadal racing back to pull off that tremendous tweener, but Djokovic had the final word. When Nadal netted a backhand volley, the reigning champion broke again for 5-2.
Serving for the set, Djokovic blasted a flat forehand off the baseline powering through the 42-minute opener with an emphatic love hold. Djokovic served 85 percent roaring to a one-set lead.
Deadlocked at deuce in the second game of the second set, Djokovic wristed a framed forehand pass down the line. He held on a Nadal error. It was the third time in five service games Nadal pushed Djokovic to deuce, but he had nothing to show for it.
A 20-shot rally erupted in the third game. When it was over Djokovic was holding a 0-30 lead and Nadal was leaning over clutching at the inside of his right foot. He took a medical timeout for treatment at the one-hour mark, while Djokovic sat on his court-side seat staring straight ahead with a blue towel wrapped around his neck like a scarf warding off the Beijing evening chill.
When play resumed, they were right back in the swing zone creating one of the longest exchanges of the match popping with short angles from both players. Djokovic zapped a backhand winner crosscourt for double break point then drained an errant backhand breaking for 2-1 after 66 minutes of play.
A five-game spree from the top seed stretched the lead to 5-1.
Concession is not part of Nadal's game plan. He saved the first championship point twisting a forehand winner down the line. Djokovic was a bit too casual netting a forehand drop shot on the second championship point. Finishing with a flourish, Djokovic drilled an ace out wide on his third championship point.
Unbeaten and untested, Djokovic is the undisputed king of Beijing for a sixth time.