Djokovic Beats Nadal, Forces Deciding Doubles In Sydney

Novak Djokovic prolonged his mastery over World No. 1 Rafael Nadal on hard courts, and Serbia and Spain will play a deciding doubles match for the ATP Cup title on Sunday night in Sydney.

Djokovic won his ninth consecutive match on hard courts against Nadal and extended his set win streak to 19 (since 2013 US Open final) against the World No. 1 with the 6-2, 7-6(4) win. The World No. 2 now leads Open Era’s most prolific head-to-head series 29-26.

Djokovic dominated from the start, putting Nadal on the defensive with his return and especially during backhand-to-forehand rallies as Nadal struggled to keep pace. The Spaniard’s backhand slice did little to rattle Djokovic, and when the Spaniard was settled in on defence, Djokovic would deliver a drop shot that would leave the World No. 1 reeling.

Djokovic broke in the opening and fifth games to roars from the pro-Serbia crowd. The trumpets blared and flags waved before the World No. 2 served the set out to love behind four consecutive aces.

Nadal saw his first five break points of the match in the sixth game of the second set, as Djokovic served 2-3, 0/40. But as the outnumbered yet vocal Spanish fans screamed, Djokovic erased them all, the final on a backhand-to-forehand rally that ended with a Nadal forehand shank.

“Ser-bi-a! Ser-bi-a! Ser-bi-a!” the fans roared.

All ATP Cup, in Brisbane and Sydney, Djokovic and his teammates have been bolstered by the thousands of Serbians living in Australia and rooting for their home country. The marquee matchup of the final was their best showing yet.

In the second set, Nadal hit over his backhand more frequently and held throughout, including at 5-5 when he erased two break points.

But in the tie-break, Djokovic returned to his old reliable, blasting backhands to Nadal’s forehand corner for a mini-break at 4/4 and served it out two points later.

The two are expected to return to the court now for the deciding doubles. Serbia is expected to play Djokovic/Troicki against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta/Nadal.