Uzair Rizvi, BeyondHeadlines
The 2011 Wimbledon final is the final many were not expecting or hoping for Nadal vs. Djokovic. In a fitting style, the top two seeds have booked their place in the Men’s finals with first seed Nadal taking Centre court against second seed Novak Djokovic.
Both the players have won the year’s Grand Slam with Djokovic claiming the Australian Open and Nadal winning the French Open.
Rafael Nadal leads Novak Djokovic 16-11 in head-to-head but Djokovic’s won all four of their 2011 matches. Nadal, however, has won all five of their head-to-head meeting in the Grand Slam matches.
The Serbian Djokovic is having a memorable 2011 season, with 47 wins and just one defeat in 2011. Regardless of the result the Serb will take away the top ranking on Monday from Nadal for the first time in his career.
Novak just has more momentum at the moment, coming off a thrilling match with Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the semi-finals.
For Djokovic, this is the biggest match of his career and winning here will surely make this undisputedly his year. He has slowly but surely turned his record against Nadal around.
On the other hand is a fiery Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who despite being injured is playing some brilliant Tennis, as usual. In semi-finals, he ousted Britain’s Andy Murray. He was transcendent in his victory against Murray.
He has won last twenty games on trot here in London, only losing to Federer and none other than him.
The Spaniard played with precision and power towards the end of that match that it is difficult to see any player living with him when he reaches that level.
He is unlikely to depart from the brutal and unpredictable style that has got him there, he leaves opponent guessing until the last second what shot he will play.
He unleashes a wicked cross-court hand that sends opponent tumbling, his power is too something to behold and when all engines are firing Nadal in unconquerable.
Novak can grind the opponents down with an unrelenting recovery game. A large part of his game is built on the foundations of movement, defence and the return. His baseline works and forehand are all testament to Spaniard’s efforts.
Djokovic now faces the twin difficulties of never having beaten Rafa in Grand Slams and on grass, what a coup it would be to kill both two birds with one swoop.
This final promises to be a spectacular game. With both players playing well, it should be a long match to remember and a contest not to forget.
