This match had two very different facets.
For Novak Djokovic it was a nightmare. In a Final against Rafa, one has to bring his 'A' game. But what we saw was unforced error after unforced error from Novak.
On the other hand Rafa was calm, totally focused on the job at hand, determined and was not willing to gift away points. He stuck to his task. It was not easy for either player as the wind was a huge factor to contend with.
The first set was easily won by Rafa. It seemed that Novak did not get going in the first set. Rafa ran away with the set 6-2.
Novak started coming into his own in the second and started putting away some winners. I was surprised how the match which was being so dominated by Rafa in the first set, could suddenly swing towards Novak and he took the set 6-3. Was it a lapse of concentration or was the crowd shouting during the points which upset Rafa? In either case, Rafa lost the second set.
The Officials were seen trying to evict a spectator for shouting during the games.
The third set began inauspiciously for Rafa. He was broken in the first game but kept hanging in there, fighting for every point, scrambling for balls which were being placed on all corners of the court with such precision and power that it was incredible.
Being so focused and determined and not willing to give away easy points, made Novak's job on the court very very tough.
Novak's unforced errors kept mounting.
In the third set Djokovic had Rafa on the ropes 3-3 and 0-40 down but could not close out the break and the game. Rafa pulled off an amazing set, winning 6-4.
The third set loss knocked the stuffing out of Novak and he gave in tamely in the 4th. Rafa won the 4th set 6-1.
Usually Rafa's returns are deep, precise, down the line or cross court finding corners or clipping lines. But today his returns were dropping mid court. And surprisingly, Rafa was getting away with it. His returns were not being put away by Novak. Whether it was the wind factor, whether there was too much spin on the returns or whether Novak did not want to take more risk by coming to the net, I don't know.
Going through Rafa's form on hardcourt this season coming into the US Open 21-0 with many many titles including victories over Novak and Roger Federer, it was not surprising that Rafa won easily at the end in 4 sets.
The TV Commentators guessed correctly that the Finals would be a 4 setter but were wrong in picking their winner. They all thought the No.1 seed would win, but then again Rafa had other ideas.
This was Rafa's 2nd US Open Title and 13th Grand Slam Championships.
Vamos Rafa you still have a long to go and many more Slams to win.
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