Streak Broken - 5/8/2011

Date: 5/8/2011
Result: Madrid F, Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal, 7-5 6-4
Why it matters:
- Why doesn't this matter?!  This was a massive massive match.  After wins for Djokovic in Indian Wells and Miami in the finals, it was clear that Djokovic was the master of hardcourts, but everyone was still hesitant to confirm that Novak could put together big results on clay.  After an expected title in Belgrade, this was the big week.  And no bigger way to finish it with a win over Nadal in his home country.  And in two sets.  After grinding in tight three-setters, Djokovic closed both of the sets admirably in Madrid - especially the first where he could've collapsed after blowing his dominant lead in the first and several set points in the 10th game.
- This was also important history-wise.  As amazing a year as it's been for Novak, it's hard to imagine him matching Rafa and Roger in the Major tally or with weeks at #1, but he is pulling off something incredible that neither has done, and only McEnroe and Borg (though he'll likely pass Borg next week in Rome) have ever accomplished.  Even if Djokovic can't convert long-term to be one of the all-time greats over his career, he'll always be able to hang his hat on what is indisputably one of the greatest all-time starts to a season ever.
- Nadal sounded more worried and looked more upset following this than I expected.  These are not the best conditions for Rafa on clay - he's had his best stuff usually in Monte-Carlo, followed closely by Paris and Rome, but in the three years Madrid's been on clay, he's not been as dominant.  So Nadal should chalk it up to Madrid being Madrid and think about his dominance in Rome and Paris.  But instead he was thinking about the #1 ranking.  It's not panic time yet for Nadal.  I fully expect him to win Rome and Paris still, but if he suffers a shock loss at either, or worse another loss to Novak, then the panic might be proper.  However, Nadal does need to watch this match and see how much more effective he was when he was stepping in and dictating rather than hitting defensive shots to Djokovic's backhand (who came up with that game plan, by the way?).  The two might be linked, though.  If he's concerned about losing his grip on #1, maybe he's losing his confidence in being aggressive.

Honorable Mentions:
- Madrid F, Petra Kvitova def. Victoria Azarenka - 76 64 - The first set tiebreak was so crucial.  The players were trading breaks and holds haphazardly and that tiebreak was always going to set a big tone for the second set.  Kvitova really hit her spots and overpowered Azarenka in the tiebreak, and rode the wave to the title.  It was certainly impressive, but now Kvitova has set herself up for added pressure next week when she heads not to Rome, but home to Prague for a challenger event.
- Rome R1, Fernando Verdasco def. Milos Raonic - 64 64 - Finally, Verdasco got his full revenge.  After an incomplete in Estoril two weeks ago, Verdasco got to give Raonic the clay court lesson that he'd been dying to give.  For Verdasco, the icing on the cake is that it was early in a Masters Series, so it was a bigger event than either time Raonic had tagged him earlier in the season and if there is any kind of bad blood between the two, then Verdasco also had the pleasure of blocking what has been a meteoric rise up the rankings by Raonic.  Raonic will never be a dominant force on clay, but he should be able to get through a few matches.  But it's all about building towards grass where Raonic could be a natural. Raonic needs to push to try to be seeded as high as possible for Wimbledon to ease his possible draw.