God almighty, well I wasn't quite expecting that result today at the Mutua Madrid Open as Novak Djokovic rocked the king of clay in straight sets winning 7-5 6-4. I could scarcely believe my eyes when it happened, it seemed like it wasn't Rafael Nadal out there on that court today!! No one ever beats Nadal in straight sets on clay if at all and today it felt like it was an imposter out there on court.
I could digest Nadal getting beaten by Djokovic on clay but I'm just shocked at the manner of which he did get beat, a straight set win just seems utterly unbelievable!! And what makes it even more unbelievable is the fact that Djokovic was tested alot more by the Spanish World No.2 David Ferrer and by the young Brazillian Thomaz Bellucci, they both took him to 3 sets but Nadal couldn't!! I mean whit the friggg????? I honestly felt like it wasn't Rafa out there today at all, I also feel like Nadal's confidence has crumbled against Djokovic just now and its a great pity if that is the case, as Nadal can still demolish all the other players out there. However a few stats about the Madrid Open are that it is very similar in surface to a hard court as the conditions are quite fast and the altitude of the ball makes things a bit more difficult to control. In Rome the conditions will be different and a bit slower and more slippy so we will see how Rafa gets on in Rome next week at the Internationali BNL d'italia where he has had better success, although Novak Djokovic did win that title back in 2008 against Stanislas Wawrinka, but did lost it against Rafa in 2009, will the tables be turned this time???? Very possibly but it all remains to be seen.
I can't help but feel gutted that Nadal got beat tonight and also a little indignant, but I do of course have to give credit to Novak Djokovic, my gripes about his unending winning streak aside, the guy has worked extremely hard to get to where he is and I cannot deny that he is an outstanding player and no doubt soon he will be the World No.1. Its just a matter of time, if he wins at the Rome Masters and Roland Garros that'll be him. Whether or not he can win at Roland Garros is a slightly different matter, as no doubt he will face longer and much tougher matches against some high quality clay court players not to mention its a surface Rafa is well used to winning on (unlike in Madrid which he only won twice in 5 years, 2005 and 2010 last year).
In regards to the Muzza unfortunately I think in Murray's present state he doesn't pose much of a threat to Djokovic (nor does anyone else!!), but who knows maybe next year might be his time??? And just maybe if he pulls out the stops he could even challenge him at the US Open this year, then again pigs might flutter. Murray has of course been in and out of form this season so far, after the Aussie Open he had a terrible hard court season, but he had alot more success at Monte Carlo on the clay, but he did play very ropily at Madrid although he did at least win one match there. But how the rest of the clay court season pans out for Andy is uncertain, its just one of those things, I'd like to see him do well at Rome and the French and if he can stay fit and injury free he should produce some good results, but he won't be grabbing any silverware that's for sure (unless a certain Serb sprains his ankle or something similar ;-)).
Andy has recently also said in the press that he feels he is now getting back to full fitness and wants to try and win at Rome. But let's not forget he is in the same draw as Djokovic so (laughs derisively!) I don't rate his chances there! I would love to see Andy beat Djokovic and end his winning streak, he is in fact despite it all one of the few players who could actually do it, if he's at the absolute peak of his game there is a slight chance, but let's face it, if Nadal can't beat him just now then what chance has Murray???? But it reminds me of one quote from the former French Open champion Mats Wilander who said of Andy "Murray is a better player than Novak Djokovic, he just hasn't shown it yet!". And while at this present moment it sounds absurd, it potentially is very true. Andy is a top player, he always has been, its all about belief and confidence, and if he really believes enough, he can do it, as that's how Djokovic does it, by stepping on the court and believing he can win. But right now its a bit too much to expect, as Andy's current form is pretty inconsistent and his elbow injury while its probably abated for now, it might come back to haunt him. However if he does maintain good form at Rome and make it to the semis I hope he gives Djoky one hell of a match.
Another benefit to the Italian Open is that the players can acclimitise to the courts much better as they don't have the same fast conditions and high altitude as they do at Madrid. Andy has also done quite well at Rome in the past having reached the quarter finals, so maybe he can do better this time.
On the WTA side of things there was another upset as the Czeck player Petra Kvitova took out the World No.5 Victoria Azarenka to win her first Premier Mandatory title again in straight sets winning 7-6(3) 6-4 (not to mention every time she won a vital point she'd shreik like a little puppy dog!). I'm quite pleased Kvitova won as she is one hell of a player and she already beaten quite a few of the top players in different tournaments including Vera Zvonareva, Venus Williams, Li Na and even Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters. So Petra could enter the French Open as a real threat to the top players, and she herself now will enter the Top 10 for the first time this week.
But anyway that's another tournament over and another title under Novak's belt, his 6th of the year and second of the year on clay, so we will wait and see how the unstoppable machine progresses next week.
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