Rafael Nadal has done it again. The Spanish tennis star claimed his 13th Roland Garros title in an epic final against world No.1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday. With this win, Nadal equaled Roger Federer’s grand slam record of 20 titles.
The final was highly anticipated as both players had been in excellent form throughout the tournament. Nadal had not dropped a set leading up to the final, while Djokovic had only dropped one set. In addition, this was the 56th meeting between the two giants of the sport, with Nadal leading the head-to-head with 29 wins.
As the match started, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be a battle of wills. Both players traded blows in the opening exchanges, with neither being able to break the other’s serve. However, in the 10th game, Nadal seized the initiative and broke Djokovic’s serve to take the first set 6-4.
The second set was a much tighter affair, with both players digging deep to hold their serves. However, once again it was Nadal who struck late, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the 12th game to take the set 7-5.
At this point, it looked like Nadal might run away with the match, as he had done so many times before at Roland Garros. However, Djokovic is not the world No.1 for nothing, and he bounced back in the third set, breaking Nadal’s serve twice to take it 6-3.
The fourth set was another grueling battle, with both players refusing to give an inch. However, once again it was Nadal who managed to find that little bit extra when it mattered. With the score tied at 5-5, he broke Djokovic’s serve for the third time in the match and held his nerve to serve out the set and the match, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, 6-5.
The final was a testament to Nadal’s incredible ability to perform on clay. He has now won 100 out of 102 matches at Roland Garros, a feat that is almost beyond comprehension. His dominance on the surface is unmatched, and it seems unlikely that anyone will come close to matching his record in the years to come.
For Djokovic, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. He had come into the final in great form, having won the Italian Open just before Roland Garros. However, once again he came up short against Nadal on clay. Despite this, Djokovic remains one of the greatest players of all time and is sure to bounce back from this defeat.
In the end, the final was a fitting spectacle for the end of this year’s Roland Garros. Despite the absence of fans due to the ongoing pandemic, the quality of tennis on display was truly world-class. Nadal’s dominance on clay continues, and he will surely be the favorite to win again next year.