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| Nadal was pushed to the limit but came through against Djokovic |
Roland Garros 2013 Day 13: Nadal edges Djokovic in thriller
The match everyone has been waiting for throughout the fortnight delivered in spades on day 13 at Roland Garros as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic fought out one of the greatest Grand Slam semi-finals ever seen; an electrifying five set thriller which swung one way and then the other and saw incredible rallies, dazzling shot making and sensational drama.
A tense start saw both players testing each other out. Nadal was the first to strike with a break in game seven and maintaining the lead the Spaniard took the opener 6-4 after 54 minutes.
When the seven-time champion broke for 3-2 in the second set with a backhand winner off a drop shot it looked possible that Nadal would take a massive advantage with a two set lead.
Djokovic hit back just in time with his first break in the next game and the Serb broke again two games later and levelled the match 6-3.
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| Djokovic fought back strongly |
The Serb could not carry the momentum into the third however and was broken in the second game when a forehand was judged to have missed the line. Suddenly Nadal had raced ahead 5-0 and Djokovic had to fend off two points for a bagel. He avoided the whitewash but Nadal sealed the set in the following game.
In set four Nadal broke for 4-3 but saw an aggressive Djokovic strike back a game later. The Serb made two backhand errors at 5-5 and Nadal broke again.
Serving for the match the third seed led 30-15 but Djokovic was not done. The World No.1 reeled off three points to break and then dominated the tie-break to level at two sets all.
For only the second time at the French Open Nadal was facing a final set shoot out. It did not begin well for the Spaniard.
Djokovic broke in the first game and consolidated for 2-0. The Serb pushed for a second break but Nadal held strong and stayed close.
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| Nadal was quick to point out Djokovic's error |
The most crucial game of the match came with Djokovic serving at 4-3. The top seed saved break point but then at deuce fell into the net after hitting an angled overhead and lost the point.
Had the Serb let it bounce in all likelihood he could have put it away and held a point for 5-3 but instead the Spaniard had another break point and two points later was level at 4-4.
Nadal moved ahead 5-4 and both of these giants of the games held firm on serve as the tension and excitement escalated to extreme levels. Increasingly Nadal was putting Djokovic under pressure with some stunning retrieving and the Serb's confidence overhead was faltering.
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| Mutual respect after a magnificent contest |
Eventually it was Djokovic who cracked and lost serve in the 16th game and after four hours and 37 minutes Nadal was into his eighth Roland Garros final with a 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3-7) 9-7 victory for the ages.
After all that excitement the second semi-final had not chance of delivering and so it proved. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was a shadow of the man who had blasted past Roger Federer in the quarter finals and could not deliver in his first Roland Garros semi-final.
Part of the problem was that the French No.1 was facing the hard work and determination of David Ferrer at the other end of the court.
The fourth seeded Spaniard put in another excellent performance and swept through the opener 6-1. Tsonga's chance came in the second set as the eighth seed broke and led 3-0. Tsonga held a set point at 5-4 but Ferrer snuffed it out.
The Spanish No.2 roared into a 6-1 lead in the ensuing tie-break and sealed it 7-3. Tsonga could not recover and was broken twice in set three.
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| Much deserved delight for Ferrer |
An overjoyed Ferrer celebrated his 6-1 7-6(7-3) 6-2 victory giving him a place in his first Grand Slam final at the age of 31 - the third oldest first-time finalist and after the most Grand Slam appearances.
In Sunday's all-Spanish match-up Ferrer will be a huge underdog but he can take heart from pushing Nadal close in Madrid and Rome.
One thing is for certain in the biggest match of his life he will give it everything with Nadal on the brink of more French Open history.
One thing is for certain in the biggest match of his life he will give it everything with Nadal on the brink of more French Open history.
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