Well this post isn't so much as a complete entry as its more of an update on the latest state of events with the men's French Open final, which has still to be completed due to play being suspended because of heavy rainfall.
So to start off with early on in the match it was Rafa who had the ascendency, dominating the play ruthlessly at the start as he raced off to a 3-0 lead. However Djokovic managed to somehow get himself back into the 1st set, reeling off the next 3 games to level the score, but on his service game at 4-3 (to Rafa), he doubled faulted to hand the break to Rafa, who went on to take the 1st set, 6-4. In the 2nd it was more of the same from Rafa, who went on to break Djokovic at 5-3 on Djoko's service game, to make it 6-3. However.... despite going a break down straight away, Djokovic broke back against Rafa, and went on to hold his serve to make it 2-2 in the 3rd set, and from then on, Djokovic fought his way back into the match, breaking Rafa's serve and rattling off the next 6 games to take himself into the 4th set, where he broke Rafa straight away in a thrilling first game on Rafa's serve. So after Djokovic held his serve, Rafa started to get a bit riled by the downfall of rain, which was starting to affect the tennis balls, which were getting heavy and the clay getting into them, so after he held his service game, play was suspended for the night, leaving the score of this very intruiging match at 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, in Rafa's favour for now.
Well it has to be said that this match has the similar feel to it as the Australian Open final did earlier this year, as that match was a real slow burner, and it took a while to take off, but when it did became an incredible contest, and the same can be said for this one. In the first two sets, Rafa clearly was in control, dominating a very frustrated Djokovic, who realised just how tough it was to play the king on his best surface on his favourite court, so much so he even smashed his racquet against his chair at one point, breaking part of the wood off of it (it was later replaced of course!). And at one point in the 3rd set, you really thought that Djokovic might go down in straight sets, but its all credit to Djokovic for fighting his way back into the match, and it just shows you, with the state of play as it is, when play resumes tomorrow, Djoko could still have a chance of winning the title.
There is no doubt about the fact that Djokovic still very much believes he can turn this match around and it wouldn't surprise if tomorrow that he levels the match tomorrow when play resumes. And given Rafa's form throughout this tournament, how he has managed too annihilate his way to the final (with the exception of Nicholas Almagro) it is remarkable that even on the Philip Chartrier court, where he has been so successful, that Djokovic can still push and challenge him to the extent that he has done, and no doubt will tomorrow, and he could well be the only person that can defeat Rafa tomorrow.
And as usual Djokovic seemed to succeed in getting into Rafa's head, as we clearly saw Rafa get frustrated at the beginning of the 4th set where Djokovic got the break, and Rafa was furious about the rain coming down and play not being suspended at that time. And its almost bizzare to see Rafa get so riled and angry on court, as we are always used to seeing him calm and collected on court, but he knows that Djokovic has a chance of beating him tomorrow, or whenever the match will conclude, and I think that has rattled him. And Rafa was able to beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo and Rome in the best of 3 sets, but in a grand slam, best of 5, it definitely will be a much tougher proposition and it will take Djokovic to go the distance to win, either that or Rafa will win in 4, but the way it is going I think it will go all the way. So history will need to wait on until tomorrow for play to resume and then we can see who will be the victor of this historic and now potentially very exciting tennis match, and if the quality of play continues as it finished off tonight, it will sure be one to remember. And it will be very intruiging to see which way this one is going to swing.
Right OK so more will follow once its all over tomorrow, if it is over should I say, as the weather forecast for Paris tomorrow isn't too great either with chances of more heavy rain, so we will see if they get a chance to get out on court.
So until then that's it for now.
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