The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

This was a unique moment in tennis history and a tremendous stake for both final participants. For the first time two players created a “common Grand Slam” – it’s not only the first time that two players met in all Grand Slam finals but it was the fourth consecutive major final (!) between Djokovic and Nadal #, the two giants of modern tennis. They were both facing not only each other in the final, but the tennis records as well, Djokovic was bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver (1969) to win four consecutive Grand Slam events while Nadal was trying to equal Pete Sampras‘ record of the most triumphs at one major (7). It was like a pattern out of this world because Djokovic had faced two match points at the last year’s US Open and four match points a couple days ago in Paris…

(2)Rafael Nadal d. (1)Novak Djokovic       6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5       [3:49 h]

The occasion was exceptional and the match memorable due to very bad weather which extended it over two days. Djokovic began this final unluckily, losing the first three points on serve, he saved a triple break point, but on the fourth b.p. made a backhand error. Nadal held a *3:0 lead, but Djokovic – just like a few days before (against Federer) – erased a double break hole, and was two points away from leading 4:3 – committed a double fault though, trying to save a break point – it was 1 out of barely his four double faults in the final, but 2/4 occurred in extremely vital moments… It’s clear that two best return players in the world met on the court, so service games were not particularly crucial on a heavy and very slow surface, the most important were punishing baseline rallies, and Nadal was a dominant figure in the vast majority of them. Difficult conditions on Philippe Chatrier stadium worsened and the rain interrupted the final at 5:3 for Nadal in the 2nd set. After a 34-minute rain delay, Nadal broke Djokovic with a stunning backhand pass (sliding himself) to take a two-set lead. It seemed that the match was over when he held his own service game and broke easily the Serbian player once again at the start of the 3rd set. Then, Djokovic realized he had nothing to lose and started to deliver his best tennis, Nadal was running from side to side but couldn’t do anything against well-placed balls that Djokovic was producing from all angles of the court with astonishing accuracy. So, after six straight games for Nadal (Djokovic led 3:2* in the 2nd set), the Serb notched an 8-game winning streak – Nadal’s first lost set after 30 winning in a row!! The Spaniard finally got his service game and this time the rain helped him to halt the overwhelming disposition of Djokovic. [ The last time the men’s final was not completed on Sunday was in 1973. Bad weather meant the match could not be completed until the Tuesday, when Ilie Nastase beat Niki Pilic 6-3 6-3 6-0. ] The final was resumed on Monday at 1 p.m. and Nadal broke back immediately to ’30’. Since then, they were holding service games quite comfortably until the 12th game – Djokovic led 30/15. One point later Nadal won a 10-stroke rally with a forehand winner to get the first match point. And then, happened a small tragedy for Djokovic – he bounced 26 times before the serve (16 & 10 intervals) but missed, 8 times before the second serve and failed again despite he didn’t even risk that second serve. His head dropped in disillusionment with sight towards the clay, meantime, on the other side of the net Nadal celebrated on his knees another Parisian crown, covering his head with both hands. Then, he jumped like a Tarzan onto the stadium to hug his friends and family. “For me it is a real honour. Borg is one of the greatest in history, one of the more charismatic players in history,” Nadal said in a post-match interview with John McEnroe. “The comparison with the great Bjorn is fantastic. He’s always been very nice to me, so I have to say thanks.” Nadal has overcome Bjorn Borg‘s record of six triumphs in Paris, now he is tied with Pete Sampras in the most titles in a Grand Slam tournament. With his 11th major crown, Nadal moves into a third-place tying with Borg for the most singles championships in the Open era ##. He also becomes just the 10th player of the Open era history to win 50 titles on the ATP World Tour, with 36 of his successes occurring on clay. La Coupe des Mousquetaires Nadal received from the three-time champion Mats Wilander.  ### The runner-up, and still the best player in the world, who has lost first major encounter after 27-match winning streak, said:  “I could easily have lost the match in fourth round or even more against Tsonga, but I managed to come to the final for the first time in my career. I should be happy about that. I thought we played a fantastic match where people hopefully enjoyed yesterday and today, and I was even surprised with the number of people who attended this match today. It was a working day, but it was still a full stadium. It’s beautiful. These matches make you feel like all the work that you put into it is worth [it].” Stats of the final.

Doubles final:
(1)M.Mirnyi/D.Nestor d. (2)B.Bryan/M.Bryan 6-4, 6-4

# Four consecutive major finals between Djokovic and Nadal:
(for the first time in the Open era two players met in four consecutive Grand Slams!)

Wimbledon 2011: Djokovic d. Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
US Open 2011: Djokovic d. Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1
Australian Open 2012:  Djokovic d. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5
Roland Garros 2012: Nadal d. Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

## Most major titles in the Open era:

16 – Roger Federer (2003-10)
14 – Pete Sampras (1990-02)
11 – Bjorn Borg (1974-1981) & Rafael Nadal (2005-12)

### Longest Grand Slam match winning streaks in the Open era:

29 – Rod Laver (1969-70)
27 – Roger Federer – twice: (2005-06) & (2006-07); Novak Dokovic (2011-12)
25 – Jimmy Connors (1974-75); Pete Sampras (1993-94) & Rafael Nadal (2010-11)

 2nd semifinal:

(1)Novak Djokovic d. (3)Roger Federer         6-4, 7-5, 6-3                          [2:05 h]

In a repeat of last year’s dramatic semifinal, Djokovic avenged that 4-set defeat easier than could have been expected. Federer led with a break in the 1st set (3:2), with a two-break advantage in the 2nd set (3:0), he broke the Serbian fighter also at 4-all to serve for the set, lost the vital game to ’30’ though, and since that moment the match was actually over. Djokovic added another break (the fourth in the set!) to increase his lead to two sets to none. Federer admittedly played just one set more than Djokovic en route to the semifinal but he is almost six years older and much more spent, moreover he was 0-2 down in his previous match. All these factors made an impact on the third, rather boring set in which Djokovic hadn’t any problems to win all service games and broke once the forehand-error spreading Swiss maestro. ”I hope we’ll play a shorter match because playing six hours in Australia was very long,” Djokovic said on final. ”But it was a great match. I think it was the most beautiful match of my life, of my career. I look forward to another beautiful match.” Federer stated: ”‘I was actually feeling particularly well in the second set, and that one hurts the most to lose. In the third, I don’t know, I just wasn’t able to put a good game together anymore. You’re down two sets to nothing against Novak and it’s not the same match anymore. He goes for broke and has no fear and that’s about it.” It was their record-tying tenth meeting in Grand Slam tournaments. Federer should overcome this record this year with either Nadal or Djokovic. Stats of the match.

# Most matches at majors:

10 – Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer (8-2)
10 – Ivan Lendl vs. John McEnroe (7-3)
10 – Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic (5-5)

1st semifinal:

(2)Rafael Nadal d. (6)David Ferrer                  6-2, 6-2, 6-1                   [1:46 h]

The best Spanish players of the last few years, create one of the biggest “head to heads” in the modern history of tennis, unfortunately a lopsided one. Before this semifinal they had played 19 times with Rafa winning 15 matches, so obviously he was a huge favorite but the way he outplayed Ferrer this time, could surprise a bit the rather empty stadium (people began gathering in the 3rd set awaiting another semifinal). Quite modest expectations of an equal encounter evaporated in the 4th game of the 1st set. Ferrer wasted two break points and it was a one-way traffic since then. Nadal showed a flawless tennis while the underdog made more unforced errors than usual. The six-time champion even when slipped and fell on his bottom, was able to play a good dropshot from uncomfortable position and a volley-lob in the following stroke already standing! Even a short rain-break at 4:1 for Nadal in the 2nd set didn’t help the older Spaniard. Serving to win that set, “King of clay” displayed his majesty: played a beautiful backhand overhead (15-all), and made a passing-shot with a blistering forehand on a full speed (40/15).  He is yet to lose a set in six matches losing only 35 games in total (he advanced to French Open finals in similar style also in years 2007, 08 & 10). For Ferrer it’s the third semifinal defeat in majors (US Open 2007, Australian Open 2011). “I tried to do my best, but when the opponent was better than me in the moment, there’s nothing I can say,” commented the loser. “He played all the time very good; I didn’t have any chance. Rafael is a very good player on clay courts. He’s the best in history, and today he did an amazing match. I’m very happy with my game all tournament. Maybe today was not the best match of these two weeks, but it’s my first semi- final in Roland Garros.”

 4th quarterfinal:

(6)David Ferrer d. (4)Andy Murray            6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2                      [3:45 h]

It was a grueling battle (on Suzanne Lenglen) between two players with very similar clay-court skills. Ferrer after winning four consecutive matches without any problems, confirmed his great form jumping to a 5:2* (adv.) lead. Murray saved the set point and afterwards had two game points to level the score. In the 2nd set (almost entirely played in a drizzle) Ferrer came back twice from a break down but Murray prevailed in the tie-break thanks to very offensive attitude. The rain was heavier and officials decided to suspend the last quarterfinal as Murray led 1:0* in the 3rd set. It was a very good circumstance for the Spaniard because Murray is known for an ability to shift the momentum onto his side while winning a “contact set”, he had already shown it twice this year in Paris (against Nieminen & Gasquet) and many times in the past, also against Ferrer during their last year’s semifinal in Melbourne. The rain-break lasted between 6:45 p.m. and 7:12 p.m. local time. When players returned, Ferrer won the longest game of the match to take a 2:1 lead (five deuces, Murray squandered five game points). It was the turning point, Murray leveled in that set at 3-all but Ferrer’s ascendancy was visible more and more. The Scot began to signal back problems in the 4th set and made an unforced backhand error trying to save the second match point. He has been ousted before semifinals in Grand Slams for the first time since Australian Open 2011; Ferrer advances to his first Parisian semifinal in ten attempts (previously reached that stage in New York and Melbourne). “I thought I played some good tennis tonight,” said Murray. “I just didn’t convert. I mean, I had a lot of chances in the last couple of sets on his serve and I lost a lot of really long games on my serve, which didn’t help.”

3rd quarterfinal:

(2)Rafael Nadal d. (12)Nicolas Almagro    7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3                                [2:46 h]

Almagro entered this quarterfinal having won the last eight matches in straight sets, including victories over very good players (Simon, Baghdatis, Tipsarevic); he has strong serve and blistering forehand on the rise – all these things could indicate some problems for Rafa… if he had not won all seven meetings with Almagro… The older Spaniard showed his A-tennis in the first six service games, but since losing the opening point on serve in the tie-break his chances dropped drastically. Nadal is almost unbeatable in Paris, the only loss he has suffered occurred when he was outplayed in the 1st set (to Soderling three years ago). Everyone knows it, knows it Almagro as well. There’s nothing more to say about Almagro in sets Nos. 2 & 3 that he was on the court and won a few good points. Nadal records his 50th win in Paris, and his new shoes (with No. 6) won’t be probably up-to-date next Sunday when he will have won his 7th Roland Garros title overcoming Bjorn Borg, who celebrates today his 56th birthday. For Almagro it was third major quarterfinal, third in Paris against Nadal, each one in two-year intervals, below all these matches (played on Philippe Chartier):

2008: Nadal d. Almagro 6-1 6-1 6-1
2010: Nadal d. Almagro 7-6(2) 7-6(3) 6-4
2012: Nadal d. Almagro 7-6(4) 6-2 6-3

2nd quarterfinal:

(1)Novak Djokovic d. (5)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga     6-1, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-1                [4:09 h]

If Tsonga had won this match, it would have been one of the most remembering days in the modern French history of men’s tennis. If… Tsonga was atrocious through a set and a half. The serve didn’t work, the forehand was an error-machine. It allowed Djokovic to possess a pleasant, yet tricky 6-1 4:2 lead. Quite often comfortable leading against a dangerous opponent is delusive though – it was one of those cases, once Tsonga broke back, he was a different type of player. Especially that he knows how to deal with tight situations, and Djokovic almost lost three straight tight sets for the first time in his career… There was a drizzle in the 4th set, Tsonga held a double match point on return at 5:4 – it was the closest point out of four m.p. chances he squandered on that day: Djokovic played an overhead after a bounce, followed by a backhand volley, and Tsonga was in position he passes often well, but delivered too casual backhand and the No. 1 finished the point with a forehand volley. The second match point was saved with a cross-court forehand on the third stroke. Two games later Tsonga had two match points again, this time on advantages: first he made a forehand error, the fourth m.p. Djokovic fought off with a smash. In the tie-break Tsonga led 4:2* when a long rally occurred with a couple of slices from both sides, the Frenchman failed, and it was a turning point. This rally and that one which he won at 2-all (17 strokes – the longest rally of the match) cost him too much energy. Admittedly he saved a double set point, but at 6-all made a simple forehand error followed by a backhand error and enthusiastic Parisian crowd fell silent. The vast majority of supporters left the stadium, it’s tough to say unequivocally whether they felt correctly the final outcome or their lack of support made an impact on Tsonga’s powerless display in the decider. “As a tennis player, this is what you live for,” said Djokovic. “This is what you practise for all these years, to be part of an incredible performance, incredible match encounter here in Roland Garros with the home players. I’m really glad that I could win today.” Tsonga stated: “This is probably the most difficult defeat or loss in my career. It’s very rare for me to have match points and not win the match, so I [will] remember that because it was Roland Garros; it was a quarter-final.” Such a defeat occurred to him for the fourth time in 102 main level tournaments (Simon in Rome ’08; Clement in Lyon ’09, Nalbandian at Indian Wells ’12 & Djokovic in Paris).

1st quarterfinal:

(3)Roger Federer d. (9)Juan Martin del Potro    3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-0, 6-3             [3:14 h]

It’s an unfortunate concept in my opinion that quarterfinals in Paris are played simultaneously on two biggest arenas.  On Tuesday, when Federer won his second match point against Del Potro, Tsonga held one of his match points against Djokovic on Philippe Chartier, fans on a stadium are excluded of following important events on a different court, fans in houses have to deal with switching between streams or TV channels… Anyway it was a high quality match through first two sets, especially in the 2nd set as Juan Martin broke back immediately in the middle of the set and saved three break points at 4-all. The Argentinan kept the strong ball consequently on Federer’s backhand not permitting the Swiss to mix the pace. Del Potro had never lost a two-sets-to-love lead prior to Roland Garros ’12, but… this tournament cost him physically too much. He was needlessly involved in 4-setters against inferior opponents (Montanes, Roger-Vasselin), losing sets in these matches despite being close to wrap them up. He also played about 30 minutes longer set against Cilic (than had been required, cause DelPo wasted six set points before took the set in a tie-break… saving a double set point). His bandaged left knee finally manifested itself with an increasing pain, and the US Open champion ’09 melted in the last three sets. Only in the 1st game of the final set appeared a ray of hope as he had two break points. “[The] second set was a tough set for me to lose, but he played a really good breaker and got the better of me. But I was happy that the first two sets took some time, because I did favour myself once the match got longer. I’m very happy with the way I fought and started in the third set, fourth set, and even in the fifth set, where, obviously, it was the toughest, because that was his last chance and his resistance maybe was the strongest there.” commented Federer, who since 2nd set of this match played much more convincing tennis than in his previous encounters against players of “lower leagues”. Federer has already beaten Del Potro on five occasions this year (four times in straight sets)!

5-set barometer:
19-16 Roger Federer, 17-5 Novak Djokovic, 8-4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-5 Juan Martin del Potro

The 21-year-old David Goffin [109] of Belgium came to Paris with a humble 5-5 main-level record of 2012, yet became a tournament revelation. The young player was defeated in his last qualifying match by Joao Souza 3-6 6-7, but jumped into the main draw thanks to withdrawal of Gael Monfils. In the opening two rounds he won first career 5-set battles, ousting two veterans: Radek Stepanek and Arnaud Clement, from two-sets-to-one down on both occasions. In the third round he came back from a 2:5 in the 1st and 3:5 deficit in the 2nd set to beat Lukasz Kubot 7-6 7-5 6-1. The angry and frustrated Pole spat towards the Belgian in the 3rd set. Kubot was given a code violation by the chair umpire, he was probably upset by the partisan crowd with plenty of Belgian supporters… Goffin doesn’t look like a tennis player, his slender body building and lack of wristbands (wore a red one on right wrist in his fourth match) reminds more of a table tennis player. He is fast, takes the ball early and serves surprisingly well considering his posture. He has already inscribed himself to record books as the first player to reach last 16 in Paris being a “lucky loser” # “I had his photos and posters in my room,” said Goffin on Roger Federer. “Since I was very young, I watched him play on television. For me, for a long time, he plays near-perfect tennis, with perfect technique. And I also like him in human terms.” It was tough to expect that Goffin playing against his idol would be able to hold service games not facing a break point through almost entire two sets, but it happened on Suzanne Lenglen court! On third set point in the 1st set, Goffin played a stunning forehand DTL from the tram-lines and led 5:4* (30/15) in the 2nd set being two points away from a sensational two-sets-to-love lead – Federer responded with a bunch of good serves and the momentum shifted onto his side. The Swiss won by a 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-4 margin. He had an excellent draw to the quarterfinals (his highest ranked opponent is 78th in the world) and it’s really surprising that has lost three sets in the process.
In the same time on Philippe Chartier, an other 4th round novice – Andreas Seppi – was playing surprisingly good tennis against Novak Djokovic. The Serb started the match with a 3:0 lead, but Seppi better adjusted to difficult conditions (strong wind and penetrating chill – the temperature on Sunday dropped 10 degrees comparing to previous days). The Italian was spreading the ball with a terrific depth and accuracy, his best moment came as he broke Djokovic in the 5th game of the 2nd set with three consecutive winners, the last one after a rally in which No. 1 was invited to the net and immediately repelled. Seppi led 5:3* (30/15) in the 2nd set when Djokovic finally found his rhythm, broke back and was four times two points away from tying the match. The Italian survived an untypical tie-break, decided just by one mini-break on set point (Djokovic’s forehand error). Seppi, who played two consecutive five-setters, wore off, but cut a *0:3 (30/40) deficit in the 4th set and was two games away from producing an enormous upset – it’s a very long distance in tennis though, especially against such a clutch player like Djokovic, who stepped up and after 4 hours 18 minutes finished the contest with a drive-FH-volley directly after the return (4-6 6-7 6-3 7-5 6-3) improving his perfect record against Seppi to 8-0. “I didn’t have such a good start [to the third set],” reflected Seppi. “Maybe if I could stay in front or so in the third set, it could change a little bit. And that’s the only thing I could do better, I think, to just start a little bit better there, the third set.”
Stanislas Wawrinka was involved in two straight five-setters against local pupils. First, he ousted Gilles Simon 7-5 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-2 saving two break points at 1:3 in the 4th set, afterwards in a revenge of last year’s meeting on Philippe Chatrier he had to admit the Jo-Wilfried Tsonga‘s superiority. The Frenchman, saved a triple set point in the 2nd set (with three service winners, the last one second serve). Wawrinka despite a small injury won the next two sets easily. At *4:2 for Tsonga in the decider the match was suspended due to darkness. On the following day Wawrinka broke back, but Tsonga took the last two games and the match 6-4 7-6 3-6 3-6 6-4 – the advancement to the quarterfinals is his biggest result achieved on clay. “Today, I came on the court [in] good spirits,” said Tsonga. “I had a good night. I slept well. I was ready to play again.” The resumption was also required in the match between two tall hard-hitters, Juan Martin del Potro and Tomas Berdych. Del Potro avenged the semifinal defeat in Madrid, winning 7-6 1-6 6-3 7-5 (three sets on Sunday, the fourth one on Monday).
The strongest contender to the title, Rafael Nadal has been in a scary form. He was *1:2 (30-all) in the 1st set against very solid this year Juan Monaco when notched a 17-game winning streak! Poor Monaco had his chance to win just one game in both bagel-sets. “Very happy the way I played,” said Nadal. “I think he’s playing probably the best tennis of his career, but probably not today, especially the last set, when he started to miss. I saw him suffering a little bit on court at the end. He’s one of my best friends on tour. I feel very sorry for him.” Nadal’s semifinal rival of three Grand Slam tournaments last year – Andy Murray – survived second 4-setter this year concluded after an identical scoreline (!) 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2, this time against Richard Gasquet who squandered a couple break points at 4-all in the 2nd set and fell apart. “The game was not in my favour,” said Gasquet on that game. “And then I lost my confidence, and then he was feeling good.”

Longest match: 4 hours, 33 minutes. Juan Monaco d. Milos Raonic 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
Most aces: 26 – Milos Raonic, lost to Juan Monaco (third round)

5-set barometer:  18-12 Stanislas Wawrinka, 16-5 Novak Djokovic, 15-10 Fernando Verdasco, 14-7 Tomas Berdych, 10-10 Andreas Seppi, 8-10 Paul-Henri Mathieu, 8-6 Gilles Simon, 8-3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-1 Marcel Granollers, 4-6 Juan Monaco, 4-5 Kevin Anderson, 1-1 Milos Raonic

# Farthest advancements of “lucky losers” in majors:

Australian Open: Glenn Layendecker (3rd round 1991)
Roland Garros: David Goffin (4th round 2012)
Wimbledon: Dick Norman (4th round 1995)
US Open: Fernando Verdasco (3rd round 2003)