adminRafael Nadal’s admission on Saturday that world No 1 Novak Djokovic was in a different league may have surprised some for its candid honesty.
But there can be no arguing with it after yesterday’s China Open final in which Djokovic beat Nadal 6-2, 6-2 in 91 minutes to win his sixth Beijing title and further improve his unbeaten record here to 29-0.
Nadal can at least leave the Chinese capital with contentment at reaching his first hard-court final in 18 months, but there is still much work to do if the Spanish 29-year-old is to make his once-fierce rivalry with Djokovic as competitive as it used to be.
Nadal said: ‘I am very happy with the way that I played the week, especially because I was able to improve every single match during the week. I am happy with the way that I am improving.
‘When I arrived here, every match is important for me. All improvements are important, even the small ones. I take a lot of positive things from the week. That’s very important for me.
‘I take a lot of positive things from today’s match. As I said before, he (Djokovic) is the best today without any doubt. When somebody’s playing like Novak, he is very difficult to beat, especially on his favourite surface. I just accept that he’s better today.’
This was the forty-fifth meeting between the pair and Djokovic came into the match as the clear favourite having won six of their last seven meetings, the most recent being the quarter-final at Roland Garros when the Serbian dispatched the “King of Clay” with ease.
Nadal – who currently sits at No 8 in the world rankings after failing to win a Grand Slam in a season for the first time since 2004 – has experienced much difficulty with his wayward forehand during his recent struggles and a shank off that wing in the opening game of the match handed the immediate break to Djokovic.
Despite this, Nadal’s level was as high as it has been for a good while in the first few games as he went toe-to-toe with Djokovic from the baseline.
Nadal had two break points to level the first set at 3-3 but failed to convert and Djokovic made him pay by breaking again in the following game and then serving out the set with a blistering forehand winner.
Nadal’s woes were further compounded early in the second set as he was forced to take a medical time-out at 1-1 due to an issue with his right foot. — Dailymail Sport.
Online Reporter