Nadal outlasts Djokovic in five-set thriller
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 8, 2013
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Rafael Nadal won an epic semifinal against Novak Djokovic at the French Open to remain the King of Clay. |
Rafael Nadal displayed the athleticism and self-belief that earned him seven French Open titles to tame world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 9-7 in a pulsating 4-1/2 hour Roland Garros semifinal yesterday.
In a match of high-drama featuring a point penalty, a near tumble over the net and trick-shot mishaps, it was the sinew-stretching rallies that made the difference as Nadal withstood Djokovic's baseline onslaught to extend his run at the claycourt major to a jaw-dropping 58-1.
The Spanish third seed had stood two points from the final in the fourth set when he inexplicably let Djokovic off the hook by dropping serve at 6-5 up.
Djokovic blitzed through the fourth set tiebreak 7-3 and then streaked into a 4-2 lead in the decider when Nadal's fighting instincts kicked in to leave the Serb floundering.
A forehand long on match point secured Nadal an unprecedented eighth appearance in the Paris final and a meeting against either home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. Nadal is trying to become the first man to win eight titles at the same grand slam event.
But today Paris will host the women's singles final.
Maria Sharapova was not even an adult the last time she beat Serena Williams, it was that long ago.
It was at the WTA Championships and Sharapova was 17. Nearly nine years later, she now finds herself playing to deny Williams her 16th grand slam title in today's final, where the Russian has to overcome overwhelming odds to defend her title.
Williams has won 13 of her 15 matches against the second-seeded Russian and has won their last 12 matches on all surfaces.
"Well, I'd be lying if it doesn't bother me," Sharapova said. "I don't think that it would be a pretty competitive statement if I said (it) didn't. I would love to change that around."
Comparing Thursday's semifinals, the odds of that happening look extremely thin.
Williams crushed last year's finalist Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1, spending nearly a third of the time on court than Sharapova did in her 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 win against Victoria Azarenka.
"I have never played Maria here," said Williams, 31, who won her only Roland Garros title 11 years ago when she beat sister Venus. "We're both really excited to be this far."
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