Djokovic outplays Nadal to win Wimbledon

Monday, 4 July 2011 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: An inspired Novak Djokovic outplayed Rafa Nadal to win the Wimbledon title with an emphatic 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory in the final on Sunday.

The Serbian second seed saw off the top seed and defending champion to claim his first Wimbledon crown and confirm his status as the new world number one.

“This is the best day of my life, this is the tournament I always dreamed of winning,” Djokovic said following the presentation ceremony.

“When you are playing the best player in the world, Rafa Nadal, I had to play at the top of my game and I think I played my best match on grass.”

The first set went with serve until Djokovic conjured a break out of the blue in the 10th game to clinch it. Nadal, serving at 4-5, made two uncharacteristic errors to hand the Serbian a set point and the Spaniard struck a forehand wide to give Djokovic first blood.

Djokovic was playing almost flawless tennis and struck again in the second game of the second set, showing great anticipation and speed to reach a dropshot and clinch the break.

Nadal tried to lift his game but he simply could not live with an inspired opponent who dominated the baseline rallies with immaculate shot selection and clinical execution. Djokovic broke Nadal again to open up a 5-1 lead and he served out to love to move two sets ahead.

Nadal, twice Wimbledon champion and winner of 10 grand slam titles, finally got a foothold in the match when a rare Djokovic error handed him a break in the second game of the third set and he repeated the feat before holding to love to breeze through the third set.

The momentum of the match had completely changed and Nadal created an early break point in the fourth set which Djokovic saved.

The Serbian immediately went on the attack himself and broke Nadal in the next game but Nadal broke straight back, clinching the game with a lucky net-cord that dribbled over the net.

Djokovic refused to buckle, though, continuing to match Nadal from the baseline and he broke the Spaniard’s serve again in the eighth game before clinching victory on his first match point.