Monte Carlo Masters Final result: R NADAL (Spa) bt N DJOKOVIC (Ser) 6-3 2-6 6-1 LATEST ACTION (all times BST)  | 606: DEBATE |
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1604: "I really feel for Djokovic, this is probably the best he's played on clay with the exception of Rome 08 but still Rafa is the undisputed King of Clay."
From S via text on 81111
THIRD SET: Nadal 6-1 Djokovic
The game is up for Djokovic - he plays a couple of wild backhands and soon falls 40-0 down. A big forehand out wide has Djokovic on the stretch and he finds the net, prompting Rafa to fall backwards onto the dirt in celebration. It's a measure of Nadal's dominance that he has been pushed very hard today but still wins the final set 6-1. Classy. See you in Rome in a week's time. Nadal 5-1 Djokovic
Some nice work at the net gets Djokovic off to a good start in a game he surely must hold to have any chance, but Nadal careers across the court to wallop a backhand winner down the line for 15-15. Djokovic then finds the net, before drifting a drop shot way too short and it's 15-40. A double fault ends the game and Nadal is very close to title number five. Nadal 4-1 Djokovic
Nadal whips a a forehand down the line for 40-0 and smacks down an ace, and that could be that. Or not. 1547: "As a big Federer fan, Novak needs to win to give hope to the rest of the tennis world. C'mon Nole."
From Amrit in london via text on 81111 Nadal 3-1 Djokovic
For the first time in this set the level of intensity drops, and it's Djokovic who suffers. A tired backhand into the net sees him slip to 15-40. A big serve does the job on the first break point but a deep Nadal return on the second has Djokovic in all sorts of bother and he frames a forehand to hand back the break. 1541: "All these deuce games are pushing my nerves over the edge!!"
From Alice in Southampton via text on 81111 Nadal 2-1 Djokovic
Djokovic has a sniff of the break back at 30-30 but hammers a forehand into the net. Nadal then falters with a forehand of his own and for the third time in this set, we go to deuce. Some brilliant hitting sees Djokovic find an amazing backhand and Nadal respond with a huge forehand that the Serb leaves. At first glance it appears to have landed on the line but the umpire checks the mark and says "out", much to the Serb's relief. Break point.. and Nadal dominates with his forehand. A rare ace follows from the Spaniard, his first of the day, but he then sticks a regulation forehand into the net. Djokovic then fires an off-forehand winner for break point but Nadal gets out of trouble with another good serve - it's been his saviour a few times here. Djokovic gets yet another break point, and this time Nadal goes long with a backhand. This is turning into a classic, but we're regularly blessed with those these days. Now, how to crowbar an 'Any which way but loose' reference into the next game... Nadal 2-0 Djokovic
Nadal just misses with a cross-court backhand on the slide to fall 40-15 down, before Djokovic clips the tape with a mid-court forehand. A double-fault is exactly what the Serb does not need and we're back at deuce. Nadal hooks a forehand wide but Djokovic double-faults again. Another game point goes begging for the Serb when he just catches the top of the net with an attempted drop shot. The feeling grows that Djokovic will pay for these missed chances and Nadal earns a break point with a fantastic wrong-footing backhand pass down the line. Djokovic clips the tape again with a forehand and the ball leaps up and over the baseline. Djokovic smacks a ball into the blue sky and gets a code violation. Harsh. Nadal 1-0 Djokovic
Nadal spins in a gentle second serve to start the set and Djokovic climbs all over it with a thumping backhand. A Nadal error follows and it's 0-30 but Djokovic cannot control a heavy topspin forehand on the next point, and another miss from the Serb sees us at 30-30. Nadal then misses the off-forehand for the umpteenth time today and it's break point.... ... and contender number two for point of the season - Djokovic eventually moves in and plays a fabulous drop volley but Nadal incredibly chases it down a sneaks a winner across the Serb, who slumps to his knees with his head in his hands. If you know what I mean. Djokovic is up and about straight away though and forces another break point with some big forehands, but Nadal finds a big first serve. Both men are well and truly pumped now and this is a huge game. Deuce, and Djokovic slides in for a forehand volley but pushes it wide, turning and smashing his racquet into the dirt in pure frustration. Moments later, the world number three creams a forehand down the line for break point number three... but misses the return after a good Nadal serve, and the Spaniard eventually comes through with a fizzing forehand and a "Vamos!"
SECOND SET:
Nadal 2-6 Djokovic
Djokovic opens with a comforting first serve-winner combination but goes wide with a forehand on the second point. The Serb then runs around his backhand and hammers a forehand into the opposite corner, before walloping down an ace for 40-15. It's set point... and we get ace number four. Hugely impressive from Djokovic and Nadal drops his first set in Monte Carlo since 2006, I believe. Nadal 2-5 Djokovic
Nadal gets back on track with a solid hold to 15 as Djokovic, possibly taking a breather, misses with a couple of attempted winners. Nadal hooks a top-drawer forehand down the line on game point and the pressure is on Djokovic to see this one out. Nadal 1-5 Djokovic
Another brave sortie to the net pays dividends for Djokovic as he picks up a low backhand volley to move 40-30 up, and he follows it up with an even better half-volley pick-up from a rasping Nadal forehand. Nadal 1-4 Djokovic
Nadal is definitely a bit low-key just at the moment, while Djokovic is bouncing around like a man who means business. The third seed arrows a forehand into the corner that Nadal cannot control at 30-30, and it's break point... a huge rally and Nadal clips the net at one point, cue a few gasps, before he fires a forehand over the baseline. Djokovic now has a double break and could actually win a set here. Day ain't over yet, though, as someone once said. 1442: "Come on rafa, we DONT want 3 sets! He hasnt dropped a set since 2006 at this tournament, he cant start now!"
From anon via text on 81111 1441: "You know, I'd quite like to see Rafa and Novak tumbling out of a barn covered in straw too ... "
From anon via text (Steady there, maybe get some air) Nadal 1-3 Djokovic
Ugh. Djokovic works an opening and then tanks it to fall 15-40 down, but Nadal catches the net on the first break point and sprays a forehand wide on the second. The Spaniard makes up for it with one of his best shots of the week, a running forehand pass down the line, but Djokovic responds by attacking the net and punching away a backhand volley. The Serb eventually clinches a vital hold with a smash. 1432: "C'mon Novak, we want three sets!!"
From S via text on 81111 Nadal 1-2 Djokovic
Nadal stops the rot, although not without some difficulty. He misses with one easy put-away and Djokovic moves forward successfully to make it 40-30, but the champion holds on. 1429: "I'm a big boxing fan, and Nadal really does remind of a top level pressure fighter: Duran, but polite. Should get a The Bull or El Torro type nickname sorted."
From anon via txt on 81111 Nadal 0-2 Djokovic
This is bit like the bareknuckle fight at the end of that film with Clint Eastwood and the orangutan, every time you think it's over one of them gets back up and starts swinging again. I half expect to see Rafa and Novak tumbling out of a barn covered in straw and trying to land a punch. Anyway.... Djokovic consolidates the break with a mercifully straightforward hold, from his point of view. 1425: "Re. 1404, i've kept one tab open for the highlights and opened another tab for the live text. Ingenious."
From Harry, who should be revising, from bristol via text on 81111 Nadal 0-1 Djokovic
Another excellent lob brings Djokovic to 30-30, and leaves Nadal with a face like thunder, but the Serb then makes an error at the worst possible time. It's game point for Nadal but Djokovic does brilliantly to withstand a barrage at the net, taking it with a reflex backhand volley. Djokovic earns a break point and.... ... well, I can't do that one justice. One of the best points you will ever see has both players all over every inch of the court, Djokovic producing a lob volley that Nadal incredibly chases down and recovers. The Serb holds his nerve and sticks away the smash, and we still have a match!
FIRST SET: Nadal 6-3 Djokovic
A deepening gloom appears to be overtaking Djokovic as he falls 0-30 down, and despite getting back to level terms he stuffs a mid-court backhand into the net. Set point to Nadal... and Djokovic misses with a backhand. Shame, it was a limp end to a set that had started superbly.
A quick shot of the VIP area reveals numerous glamorous types who are almost certainly famous somewhere. The only one I recognise is motorbiker and Kevin Kline lookalike Max Biaggi, which is worth a graphic in my book. Nadal 5-3 Djokovic
Djokovic is playing on and doesn't look to be hampered in any way, but we'll see... Nadal is not the man to be facing if you're a bit under the weather. The champion crunches away one forehand so hard there is a fearful gasp around the stadium. He holds to love. 1407: "I've always been a tennis fan, but the incredible performances the top four players, then again the top ten players are producing might just make this season the most competitive I can recall."
From Jose via text on 81111 1405: Bad news, Djokovic has the trainer on looking at his back and it's a medical time-out. 1404: "Im now stuck in the terrible dilemma of wanting to watch the highlights and yet wanting to refresh for the live text. What to do?"
From Tom via text on 81111 - Why not follow the live text but through squinted eyes, meaning you'll have a vague idea of what's going on but will probably be unable to see all my errors. Nadal 4-3 Djokovic
Nadal makes a move to the net and angles away a volley before hooking a forehand pass across Djokovic for 15-40. The first break point goes begging when he misses with the return... and all credit to Djokovic, he brings his man in with a drop shot and then fashions the most accurate of cross-court backhands with Nadal all over the net. We then get a 'who can hit the sharpest angle' competition, which Nadal wins with a backhand, but Djokovic saves a third break point with a big second serve and follow-up forehand. Nadal totally dominates the next rally and Djokovic is at the limit to scramble everything back before the Spaniard surprisingly misses with a forehand. A wayward Djokovic backhand gives Nadal a fourth chance to break, and a similar error hands over the break. In the words of Brucie, 'good game, good game'. 1355: "It's always the thing with Nadal, it's not like his serve is 100% unbreakable, but by God he's good at breaking back. Pressure pressure pressure."
From Ryushinku on 606 Nadal 3-3 Djokovic
Djokovic shares a joke with a ballboy about something; Nadal looks like the Serb has just insulted his mother. The world number one responds with a brilliant scrambling smash before Djokovic hits back with a winner for 30-30. It's really good stuff at the moment - Nadal leaps on a short ball and fires an off-forehand into the corner before taking the game with a breathtaking cross-court backhand winner. Highlights: Nadal's thrilling Queen's win 1347: We have a non-football related text! In celebration, I will treat you to some highlights of last year's Queen's final between Nadal and Djokovic, which I thought was one of the best matches of the year. 1346: "My two favourite players playing each other, I don't know who to support. It's like the Queens final all over again!!"
From S via text on 81111 Nadal 2-3 Djokovic
Look out - two fizzing forehands suggest Nadal is a bit cheesed off about dropping serve twice in a row, and Djokovic then nets a forehand for 0-40. A wayward backhand on the stretch from the Serbian means his advantage lasts all of about three minutes. Nadal 1-3 Djokovic
"Nope," says Djokovic, to himself as much as anyone, as he has no chance to reach a ball that flies past him thanks to a huge wrong-footing forehand by Nadal. The Spaniard then double-faults though, and a heavy topspin forehand from Djokovic produces an error on the Nadal backhand. It's break point again... and we get an epic rally that ends with Djokovic faltering, netting a forehand. Nadal is being made to work harder than usual here and he flattens a forehand into the net, so it's break point number two of the game... and we get an even more titanic (?) rally as Djokovic reads a drop shot and responds with a winning one of his own. Nadal 1-2 Djokovic
Djokovic is in a bit of trouble at 15-30 but he's hitting well from the baseline, mixing things up a bit, and another Nadal errors brings it back to 30-30. Djokovic then thumps away a smash and his first ace of the day to move ahead. Nadal 1-1 Djokovic
A fairly lame drop shot from Djokovic does not bode well but he takes a leaf out of Murray's book, from the latter part of yesterday's semi-final, and opens his shoulders to hit a beautiful forehand down the line for 30-30. Nadal steps it up with a heavy forehand but Djokovic finds a magnificent backhand lob for deuce. This time it is Nadal who makes the error, sweeping a cross-court forehand wide and Djokovic has a break point... and in a long rally, the Spaniard goes wide on the other side with a backhand. A big surprise and great news for Djokovic - and the match. Nadal 1-0 Djokovic
Djokovic to serve... and the Serb makes two big serves to win him the kind of free points he will need today, while the first two rallies go to Nadal. It's 30-30, and Djokovic makes another first serve before thumping away a short forehand, but a poor backhand brings him back to deuce. An even worse forehand barely makes it halfway up the net and Nadal has a break point.... which he takes with a stunning cross-court backhand pass. Ominous. 1310: "If Nadal wins today's final, he will equal Federer in terms of Master Series (14). But.... can he do the same with Agassi (17)? What's you bet for today?"
From oscarmcmc on 606 1305: The players are out on the Court Central - Rafa was looking as menacing as Mike Tyson in his prime as he went through his usual pre-match routine. Djokovic looks impressively calm, bearing in mind the challenge ahead. The weather is good and we're all set. 1300: Andy Murray may have gone down fighting on Saturday but we are still left with an enticing final line-up as Rafael Nadal takes on Novak Djokovic for the 16th time. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 11-4, and has won their last two meetings as well as all six on clay. He is going for a fifth consecutive title in Monte Carlo - a record in the Open era - although the Spaniard is chasing Briton Reggie Doherty, who won the event six times between 1897 and 1904. Reggie is still ranked fifth in Britain, you know. Not really.
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