2012 French Open – Men's singles final explained

Match Desc:French Open Men's Singles Final
Match Date:Sunday 10–Monday 11 June 2012
Tournament:French Open
Location:Paris, France
Umpire:Damien Dumusois
Duration:3 hours 49 minutes
Player1: Rafael Nadal
Player2: Novak Djokovic
P1 S1:6
P2 S1:4
P1 S2:6
P2 S2:3
P1 S3:2
P2 S3:6
P1 S4:7
P2 S4:5
P1 Seed:2
P2 Seed:1

See main article: 2012 French Open and 2012 French Open – Men's singles.

The 2012 French Open men's singles final was the championship tennis match of the men's singles tournament at the 2012 French Open, with Rafael Nadal defeating Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5.[1] [2] It was a Grand Slam final match of historic proportions for both players. Nadal was aiming to become the first man to win seven French Open titles, breaking the record previously held by Björn Borg, who won six titles, and equalling the record held by Chris Evert, who won seven titles. Djokovic was aiming to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously.[3] Since Djokovic had defeated Nadal in the previous three Grand Slam finals, Nadal also was attempting to avoid losing in all four tournaments to the same player.

The final marked the fifth consecutive major final for Nadal, his personal best streak.[4]

Match

Nadal won the first set 6–4, gaining a break of serve after a long attritional battle. There were several delays due to the erratic rain, but none lasting more than an hour. With Nadal leading by two sets to one, and Djokovic leading 2–1 and serving (up a break) in the fourth set, the match was suspended due to rain and played the next day;[5] it was initially thought that Djokovic had gained the momentum, having won eight games in a row prior to the suspension of the match. However, Nadal was able to regroup and take the fourth set and seal the victory, after Djokovic double-faulted on championship point down.

Statistics

Category Nadal Djokovic
1st serve %60 of 99 = 61% 55 of 95 = 58%
Aces3 2
Double faults4 3
Winners29 33
Unforced errors23 40
Winning % on 1st serve46 of 75 = 61% 45 of 76 = 59%
Winning % on 2nd serve23 of 43 = 53% 20 of 43 = 47%
Receiving points won40 of 95 = 42% 43 of 99 = 43%
Break point conversions9 of 17 = 53% 7 of 10 = 70%
Net approaches7 of 13 = 54% 16 of 23 = 70%
Total points won125 116
Fastest serve203 km/h 205 km/h
Average 1st serve speed184 km/h 187 km/h
Average 2nd serve speed142 km/h150 km/h
https://www.tennisabstract.com/charting/20120608-M-Roland_Garros-F-Novak_Djokovic-Rafael_Nadal.html

Post-match reactions

Djokovic: "I could have easily lost the match in the fourth round or even more against Tsonga, but I managed to come to the finals for the first time in my career," Djokovic said. "I should be happy about that, of course. I will be, and I am, but in this moment I am disappointed about this loss because I thought I started to play better in the third set and felt like I could take this match to a fifth set and then everything could be possible, but there was a rain delay when I started to feel really good on the court".[6]

Nadal: "When you lose, it's because you don't deserve the title,". "So in my mind, this was the final I had to win. That's why I was so emotional".[7]

Nadal's Lifetime Coach, Toni Nadal: "For us, it was very important to win here now against Djokovic, because we knew that if he won again, the fourth one, then (Rafa) completing a Grand Slam of losses would have been ugly, and we were very close to doing that."[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rafael Nadal claims 7th French title. 11 June 2012. ESPN. 11 June 2012 .
  2. Web site: Nadal Wins Seventh French Open Title. 11 June 2012. The New York Times. 11 June 2012 .
  3. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/9319806/French-Open-2012-History-beckons-Rafael-Nadal-and-Novak-Djokovic-in-Roland-Garros.html French Open 2012: History beckons Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Roland Garros – Telegraph
  4. Web site: Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Grand Slam Final Streak . 2024-06-19 . www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com.
  5. Web site: French Open: Nadal & Djokovic final suspended because of rain. 2012-06-10. BBC.
  6. Web site: Bryant: Rafa overcomes rain and Djoker. 11 June 2012.
  7. Web site: Nadal tops Djokovic for 7th French Open title. 11 June 2012.
  8. Web site: Nadal tops Djokovic for 7th French Open title. 11 June 2012.