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Tuesday 13 September 2011

US Open Final 2011

The final of the US Open had all the chance of being one of the greatest matches of the year. It didn't disappoint. The match was won in four sets by Djokovic against Nadal. The final score was 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1.

The first game really set the tone for the whole match with terrific ball striking from both players. You had the feeling right from the start this was going to be an epic. Nadal drew first blood in the opening set. It was a great start to the match from the former World No1. A great response though from the Serb and he broke straight back 2-1 in the opening set.

Djokovic went on to hold his serve and then an incredibly tight game on Rafa's serve where Djokovic played some breath taking tennis to get himself up in the match for the first time 3-2 Djokovic. Another great game in this set, Djokovic wins it though and the following game on Nadal's serve Djokovic wins it in some style. That was his 5th game in a row! Djokovic won the first set 6-2 with the shortest game of the match. Nadal looked like he had a lack of confidence as he played too far away from the baseline.

Nadal stops the run of six straight lost games by winning the first in the second set comfortably on his serve. Nadal then broke Djokovic to take an early lead in the second set. 2-0 Nadal. After an epic 17 minute long game with spectacular hitting Djokovic got the break back 2-1! Djokovic went on to hold his serve and look to attack Nadal on Nadal's serve. Djokovic was on rampage and managed to break Nadal again! Many were getting the feeling of "Déjá Vu". 3-2 Djokovic second set.

The Serb held serve to put even more pressure on the Spaniard. It was a must win game for the former world No1. Another terrific game in the match was played out. Nadal after a tricky game somehow managed to hold serve and then in another epic game Nadal played the best tennis of his life and broke back to get both men back on serve!

A faulty game not to remember from Nadal as Djokovic took the initiative and broke again. 5-4 Djokovic second set. He then held his serve to close out a tough second set 6-4.

A good start to the third set from Nadal saw him hold his serve to love but Djokovic wasn't going to let Nadal get an early advantage like he had done in the past two sets and held his own serve. Djokovic charged in front by breaking the Nadal serve once again to get a very important break in the third set. Nadal broke back though to bring the score back to 2-2.

Game after Game they continued to produce one of the most watchable matches I had ever seen. The average of a game in the match was over 6 minutes for sure. It was as if they had forgotten how to hold serve! To be perfectly honest there were literally to many talking points in each game that my brain couldn't keep up.

Djokovic broke for the eighth time in the match to give the score 3-2. Nadal broke back though once again. 3-3 third set! Nadal held serve playing like a man on a mission. 4-3 Nadal.

Eventually Novak Djokovic held his serve. 4-4 in the third. Two confident holds in a row from Nadal 5-4. A hold from Djokovic put the set at 5-5. An Exceptional series of points from Djokovic brought him to another break of Nadal's serve and he had a chance to take the match and championship. On 15-15 the best point ever was played out with the last shot a backhand down the line from Nadal!

Nadal broke back at 6-5 to bring one of the best sets of tennis to a nail-biting finale. An great tie-break saw Nadal triumphant, this match would go to a fourth set! At the beginning of the fourth set Djokovic's back felt tight and we thought that maybe he would have to retire but he worked his way into the set and managed to loosen up.

Djokovic took control of the set with incredible, champion-like play and never looked back. Djokovic stormed to victory in the fourth set 6-1.

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