Nadal edges out Djokovic to setup final clash with Federer
Saturday, 17 May 2008 19:27
Rafael Nadal will do battle with Roger Federer once again
World number two Rafael Nadal will face defending champion Roger Federer in the final of the Hamburg Masters after the Spaniard beat Novak Djokovic today.
Nadal could have lost his world number two ranking to Djokovic today had he lost to the 20-year-old Serbian star. But Nadal fought his way through a tough match to win 7-5 2-6 6-2.
Djokovic went into the match as the underdog as he had never beaten Nadal in three previous meetings on clay. But the world number three came out all guns blazing and forged his way into a 3-0 lead in the first set.
He had a break point on the Nadal serve which, if converted, would have seen him take a 4-0 lead. But Nadal managed to keep hold of his serve and then raised his game to forge back into the set.
Nadal started to dictate the play with his booming forehand - which Andy Murray described earlier in the week as the best in the world – and he broke a rattled Djokovic twice to take the set 7-5.
It was a different story in the second set as Nadal lacked the intensity of the first. The energetic Djokovic made him pay, breaking the king of clay twice to claim the second set 6-2.
Djokovic bounced into the third set full of confidence, but it was Nadal who showcased his trademark fight and determination to go into a decisive 5-2 lead.
The Spaniard wasted five match points, but after three hours of gruelling tennis, Nadal secured the match with his sixth match point.