On Saturday, a global audience of about 400 million people was expected to watch “El Clasico” between Real Madrid and Barcelona, won by “Barca” 4-0. The Spanish football game hardly ever disappoints as a spectacle.
In London on Saturday afternoon, Novak Djokovic’s hotly anticipated clash with Rafael Nadal — a Real Madrid fan — was far from a classic. Thank Djokovic’s genius for that.
Their rivalry has produced some of the most dramatic matches in tennis history — think of the 2012 Australian Open final, when Djokovic prevailed in nearly six hours — but lately the Serb has had little difficulty seeing off Nadal.
So it continued at the O2 Arena, as a flawless Djokovic cruised past Nadal 6-3 6-3 to remain on course for a fourth consecutive title at the World Tour Finals.
“I don’t feel unbeatable, but it does definitely feel great when I’m playing the way I played today, when I feel like I’m dictating the pace, the match itself, most of the rallies, I feel like I’m on top of my opponent,” Djokovic told reporters.
The second semifinal at the year-end championships takes place Saturday evening but Djokovic knows for sure he’ll tangle with a Swiss, either Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka.
They’ve both had greater success against Djokovic this season than Nadal.
Federer accounts for half of the world No. 1’s paltry six losses in 2015, while Wawrinka inflicted the most painful reverse, overcoming the 28-year-old in the French Open final to, as it would turn out, prevent Djokovic from completing the calendar year grand slam.
When Djokovic and Nadal last duelled in Beijing five weeks ago, the final score read 6-2 6-2 in the former’s favor. Even though Nadal tallied more games Saturday, it seemed less close.
Djokovic sizzled from the outset, hitting eight winners to build a 3-0 lead, and protected his serve with aplomb — dropping just 10 points overall and never facing a break point.
Nadal saved a break point to begin the second set aided by a body serve and managed to contain Djokovic for a spell. But one sensed that a Djokovic break was always coming, and it duly arrived in the fifth game. He broke again with a backhand cross-court winner, a shot that has tormented the 14-time grand slam winner, to wrap up proceedings.
Djokovic levelled his head-to-head record with Nadal — they’ve each won 23 times — and emerged triumphant in eight of the past nine. He is 9-0 in sets in 2015.
“When somebody’s doing like this, just the only thing I can do is congratulate him and just wish not the best of luck for the next year,” Nadal told reporters, smiling.
Nadal, however, will probably leave London in good spirits. Slumping for much of 2015, the left-hander beat three top-10 players in a row in Wawrinka, Andy Murray and David Ferrer.
Indeed, given his recent form, if anyone other than Djokovic is on the other side of the net, he would like his chances.
Djokovic, meanwhile, collected his 30th win this season against top-10 opposition. Subpar versus Federer on Tuesday — his 23-match winning streak was snapped — and doing enough to down Tomas Berdych on Thursday, he lifted his game Saturday.
Especially if Federer is his opponent Sunday, Djokovic won’t be the crowd favorite. He’ll know it, too. But with the season he has put together, some would say it would only be fitting if he makes it four straight titles indoors in London.
