Inevitably - and I am someone who has certainly contributed to this line of thinking over the years - a number of non-Nadal fans (and some Nadal fans even) have been saying that "Djokovic was terrible" or "Djokovic played awful". Now, while I certainly do agree that Djokovic was not completely on his game, I think that the view of Front, Denisovich, Darth, etc. really misses the point. That said, I know where all of you are coming from. It is painful for those who like our style to see a player like Djokovic or Federer make a ton of errors against Nadal and look like he is beating himself.
On the other hand, we have to look at some other factors here. First of all, this match went on for about 4 hours, so Djokovic was doing something right. This wasn't the 2008 final. There were plenty of long rallies and there was very good shotmaking throughout from both sides. I would also bet that Djokovic hit more winners than Nadal, despite his struggles today. Djokovic was actually very good in many of the rallies and outplayed Nadal in probably 55% to 60% of them. So to say that Djokovic played terribly and that's what explains the match is frankly inaccurate.
The problems in this match were, frankly, problems that were evident even in Djokovic's recent wins over Nadal. The main one is Djokovic's inability to solidify a lead against Nadal. He simply does not do this as seamlessly as he should. Even in the Miami final, he shot himself in the foot and made a mess of the start of the second set. The worst such collapse from the last year was in the US Open final, when Djokovic had the match on a platter in front of him early in the third set, with a sign on the wall saying "All Yours Novak".
Today, Novak's chance to win this match was at the start of the second set. He had the lead, he had everyone somewhat shocked, he had plenty of people pulling for him, and he had the momentum. Part of this probably had to do with his illness, but I think it was more psychological than anything: he became timid Novak. Nadal was a bull trying to assert his Roland Garros pedigree, while Djokovic looked like a captive backing up with cliff behind him, saying "please, let me live, let me live". His energy dropped and he started to play on his heels. The difference between the confident, self-assured Djokovic of the second set in the Rome final versus the timid Djokovic in the second set today was striking.
What this problem boils down to is that when Nadal ups his intensity level and becomes a defensive juggernaut who mixes in some big forehands, Djokovic really doesn't know who he is or what to do. He more so just plays the game, hoping that the best will happen if he "plays his game". All too often, it doesn't. And because he doesn't have a conscious gameplan in those moments - which demand more than casual playing - he ceases to even be himself.
The ugly manifestation of this failure to respond to a surging Nadal today was Djokovic's implosion on serve in the second set. While Nadal was making the overwhelming majority of his first serves, Djokovic's were all over the place, and they not only hurt him tactically in the short run, but they sent a clear signal to Nadal that Djokovic was tired and vulnerable. And, being the opportunist that he is, Nadal pounced.
In conclusion, I don't think Djokovic played that poorly today. I thought he was excellent in many of the rallies and did some serious damage with my favorite shot against Nadal - the forehand down the line. But the difference really was Djokovic's inability to consolidate his lead at the start of the second set. He stepped down, while Nadal stepped up. I knew Djokovic was going to get a lead today, and if when that moment came Djokovic backed off, he'd be in trouble. Unfortunately, that was all too true today. That - coupled with the irregular number of missed returns and the low first-serve percentage - sealed Djokovic's fate.
After last year's US Open, Djokovic needed to get better at consolidating leads against Nadal. Evidently, he has not improved much in that area.
On the other hand, we have to look at some other factors here. First of all, this match went on for about 4 hours, so Djokovic was doing something right. This wasn't the 2008 final. There were plenty of long rallies and there was very good shotmaking throughout from both sides. I would also bet that Djokovic hit more winners than Nadal, despite his struggles today. Djokovic was actually very good in many of the rallies and outplayed Nadal in probably 55% to 60% of them. So to say that Djokovic played terribly and that's what explains the match is frankly inaccurate.
The problems in this match were, frankly, problems that were evident even in Djokovic's recent wins over Nadal. The main one is Djokovic's inability to solidify a lead against Nadal. He simply does not do this as seamlessly as he should. Even in the Miami final, he shot himself in the foot and made a mess of the start of the second set. The worst such collapse from the last year was in the US Open final, when Djokovic had the match on a platter in front of him early in the third set, with a sign on the wall saying "All Yours Novak".
Today, Novak's chance to win this match was at the start of the second set. He had the lead, he had everyone somewhat shocked, he had plenty of people pulling for him, and he had the momentum. Part of this probably had to do with his illness, but I think it was more psychological than anything: he became timid Novak. Nadal was a bull trying to assert his Roland Garros pedigree, while Djokovic looked like a captive backing up with cliff behind him, saying "please, let me live, let me live". His energy dropped and he started to play on his heels. The difference between the confident, self-assured Djokovic of the second set in the Rome final versus the timid Djokovic in the second set today was striking.
What this problem boils down to is that when Nadal ups his intensity level and becomes a defensive juggernaut who mixes in some big forehands, Djokovic really doesn't know who he is or what to do. He more so just plays the game, hoping that the best will happen if he "plays his game". All too often, it doesn't. And because he doesn't have a conscious gameplan in those moments - which demand more than casual playing - he ceases to even be himself.
The ugly manifestation of this failure to respond to a surging Nadal today was Djokovic's implosion on serve in the second set. While Nadal was making the overwhelming majority of his first serves, Djokovic's were all over the place, and they not only hurt him tactically in the short run, but they sent a clear signal to Nadal that Djokovic was tired and vulnerable. And, being the opportunist that he is, Nadal pounced.
In conclusion, I don't think Djokovic played that poorly today. I thought he was excellent in many of the rallies and did some serious damage with my favorite shot against Nadal - the forehand down the line. But the difference really was Djokovic's inability to consolidate his lead at the start of the second set. He stepped down, while Nadal stepped up. I knew Djokovic was going to get a lead today, and if when that moment came Djokovic backed off, he'd be in trouble. Unfortunately, that was all too true today. That - coupled with the irregular number of missed returns and the low first-serve percentage - sealed Djokovic's fate.
After last year's US Open, Djokovic needed to get better at consolidating leads against Nadal. Evidently, he has not improved much in that area.
