Watch 2014 French Open Final: Nadal Vs Djokovic
This might get old if it wasn't so exciting. No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic are set to once again meet in the finale of a Grand Slam tournament at Sunday's men's singles final in the 2014 French Open.
No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal is bidding for a ninth championship at Roland Garros. No. 2 Novak Djokovic is eyeing his first, which would complete a career Grand Slam. Whoever wins will be ranked No. 1 on Monday. And there should be very few surprises during the match. €We know each other very well,€ Nadal said.
This will be their 42nd matchup, more than any other pair of men in the Open era, which began in 1968. It's also their 12th Grand Slam meeting, another record €" one more than Nadal and Djokovic each have played Roger Federer at the four majors.
For the third-straight year, Novak Djokovic will get a much-craved opportunity to end the dominance of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and in doing so collect the one Grand Slam title he has yet to win.
It is a rivalry that has become the dominant one not just of this era, but in the history of tennis. The pair will meet for a record 42nd time in the French Open final on Sunday, and for Djokovic the stakes may never have been higher. Not only would a win give him a career Grand Slam, but it would return him above Nadal to the top of the rankings.
The top-seeded Spaniard has come exactly as advertised so far, failing to drop a single set before his four-set quarterfinal victory over No. 5 David Ferrer.
Nadal followed that up with an evisceration of No. 7 Andy Murray. If that match was a prize fight, the 2013 Wimbledon champion wouldn't have answered the bell in the third round.
STYLES: In many ways, Djokovic and Nadal are similar. They are among the game's best movers €" Nadal powering his way around the court; Djokovic twisting his body this way and that. They defend tremendously and switch to offence with zero hesitation. They also are top returners. All of that adds up to long points, particularly on clay. One key could be how well Nadal's backhand holds up. It was a trouble spot in the quarterfinals against David Ferrer, prompting Nadal to run around that side and hit his uppercut of a forehand as much as possible.
WEATHER: Nadal loved the sudden turn from two weeks of cloudy, chilly conditions to sun and warmth in the semifinals, because his big topspin forehand is much more effective when it's hot and dry. Djokovic, meanwhile, appeared to struggle a bit with the change in weather. There's a chance of rain Sunday morning and again in the evening, but it's supposed to be clear when they play in the afternoon. The temperature is supposed to approach 80 degrees (27 Celsius).
No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal is bidding for a ninth championship at Roland Garros. No. 2 Novak Djokovic is eyeing his first, which would complete a career Grand Slam. Whoever wins will be ranked No. 1 on Monday. And there should be very few surprises during the match. €We know each other very well,€ Nadal said.
This will be their 42nd matchup, more than any other pair of men in the Open era, which began in 1968. It's also their 12th Grand Slam meeting, another record €" one more than Nadal and Djokovic each have played Roger Federer at the four majors.
For the third-straight year, Novak Djokovic will get a much-craved opportunity to end the dominance of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and in doing so collect the one Grand Slam title he has yet to win.
It is a rivalry that has become the dominant one not just of this era, but in the history of tennis. The pair will meet for a record 42nd time in the French Open final on Sunday, and for Djokovic the stakes may never have been higher. Not only would a win give him a career Grand Slam, but it would return him above Nadal to the top of the rankings.
The top-seeded Spaniard has come exactly as advertised so far, failing to drop a single set before his four-set quarterfinal victory over No. 5 David Ferrer.
Nadal followed that up with an evisceration of No. 7 Andy Murray. If that match was a prize fight, the 2013 Wimbledon champion wouldn't have answered the bell in the third round.
STYLES: In many ways, Djokovic and Nadal are similar. They are among the game's best movers €" Nadal powering his way around the court; Djokovic twisting his body this way and that. They defend tremendously and switch to offence with zero hesitation. They also are top returners. All of that adds up to long points, particularly on clay. One key could be how well Nadal's backhand holds up. It was a trouble spot in the quarterfinals against David Ferrer, prompting Nadal to run around that side and hit his uppercut of a forehand as much as possible.
WEATHER: Nadal loved the sudden turn from two weeks of cloudy, chilly conditions to sun and warmth in the semifinals, because his big topspin forehand is much more effective when it's hot and dry. Djokovic, meanwhile, appeared to struggle a bit with the change in weather. There's a chance of rain Sunday morning and again in the evening, but it's supposed to be clear when they play in the afternoon. The temperature is supposed to approach 80 degrees (27 Celsius).
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