By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, May 12, 2019
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic swept Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 6-4, in the Madrid final for his 33rd Masters crown and first title since he won his record seventh Australian Open in January.
Photo credit: @MutuaMadridOpen
Eyeing the oncoming ball as if inspecting its thread count, Novak Djokovic splattered a drive behind Stefanos Tsitsipas that nearly knocked the lanky Greek out of his sneakers.
A focused Djokovic was a fierce front-runner in a dynamic performance today.
Watch: Tsitsipas Stuns Nadal
The world No. 1 did not face a break point dismissing Tsitsipas, 6-3, 6-4, in a dynamic performance to capture his third Mutua Madrid Open title.
Arriving in Madrid seeking confidence and much-needed clay match play, Djokovic departed with both—and a share of a prestigious record. Djokovic raised his record-tying 33rd Masters crown equaling Rafael Nadal for the all-time mark—five ahead of Roger Federer, who won his 28th Masters in Miami last month.
The 31-year-old Serbian played near pristine tennis driving 28 winners against 14 unforced errors in avenging his Rogers Cup loss to Tsitsipas last August. Djokovic did not drop a set in tournament victories over Taylor Fritz, Jeremy Chardy, Dominic Thiem and Tsitsipas.
Djokovic equaled Nadal's Masters record on his home soil in Madrid and will try to dethrone the king of clay in Paris to complete his second Nole Slam and hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously.
“I’m very pleased,” Djokovic said. “I was saying after yesterday’s semifinal win that it was a very, very important win for me, for my confidence.
“I wasn’t playing my best tennis after Australia so I was looking to regain the momentum this week. I’ve started well, I didn’t drop a set, so I’m very pleased.”
It is Djokovic’s 74th career title and first since he swept Nadal to capture his record seventh Australian Open championship in January.
The only man to win all nine Masters championships collected his third Madrid crown following triumphs over Nadal in the 2011 final and Andy Murray in the 2016 title match.
Following his emotional three-set win over Nadal that ended near midnight local time on Saturday, Tsitsipas faced the massive task of recoverying physically and emotionally while playing for his first Masters championship against the world No. 1.
The 6'4" Greek can hit heavier groundstrokes, but Djokovic can hit the ball earlier. Stepping inside the baseline to take the ball on the rise at times and rob his opponent of reaction time, Djokovic spread the court shrewdly, struck cleanly and played oppressive baseline tennis.
"Obviously, I needed to step in," Djokovic said. "He’s very talented. He beat Rafa yesterday, I think they finished around mindnight, it was a very late night.
"I could see he wasn’t as dynamic in the movement today. It’s a big win for me today and in this tournament."
The eighth-seeded Tsitsipas closed with command against Nadal, who gives up much more ground behind the baseline. But Djokovic’s skill straddling the baseline taking the ball on the rise was disconcerting for the Greek from the start.
Quick off the mark, Djokovic ran down a drop shot and answered with an angled winner then earned double break point when Tsitsipas sprayed a backhand.
Djokovic broke for a 2-0 lead when Tsitsipas missed a forehand down the opposite sideline.
Cruising through holds with confidence, the top seed was never pushed to deuce in five service games in the opening set. Sliding a wide service winner, Djokovic closed a clean 40-minute first set striking 14 winners against just seven unforced errors.
Down 15-40 in his second service game of set two, Tsitsipas dug in to deny a pair of break points and dodge danger when Djokovic narrowly missed a backhand pass. That hold put the ninth-ranked Greek up 2-1.
Though Tstisipas showed strong net skills throughout the week, he couldn't gain much traction attacking an unerring Djokovic today.
Eighty-two minutes into the match, Djokovic dashed out side the doubles alley flicking up a deep lob. Tsitsipas hit a bounce-smash to the Serbian’s backhand then made the mistake of trying to follow it forward.
Zapping a clean backhand pass down the line brought Djokovic double break point. When Tsitsipas scattered a forehand, Djokovic had his second break and a 5-4 lead.
Serving for the championship, Djokovic was driven to deuce for the only time in 10 service games.
A smash brought him a fourth championship point. On the 17th shot of the ensuing rally, Djokovic spun a forehand down the line to close in one hour, 32 minutes.