Rivals since 1998 - Novak Djokovic and Andrew Murray The little rascal across the court bounced the ball over and over and over and over. Tiny little Andrew rolled his eyes in exasperation and shook his head in disgust. This boy was wasting his time, bouncing the ball so much that the yellow covering would definitely come off. Maybe that was his plan. He glanced at his 39-year old mother sitting in the stands. She smiled at him and seemed to nod in a manner that said “Just play the ball, Andy.” Andy then tried to focus himself on beating that little bouncy boy. Personally, the stakes were high for him. He had to prove to himself that he could win when it mattered. Fifteen years down the line, and it seems nothing has changed at all. Personally for Andy Murray, the stakes remain ever-high. So much has been written about his failed exploits at conquering this particular tournament, that even mentioning it is redundant. But the difference is that back then, the professional stakes were a place in the next round of an U-12 tournament in a small town of southeastern France. Today, the professional stakes are millions of times higher. The stakes today are the ability to quell the discomfort of a waiting nation, the assured place in history and the key to the highly exclusive lounge of tennis legends. A win today for Andy Murray would change his life forever. Perhaps the stakes for the bouncy boy are not so high. Novak Djokovic has come a long way from the little trooper that day fifteen years ago. He is a whole 12 inches taller in addition to being 6 Grand Slam titles richer. He has nothing to prove. He is the world #1, he is a 4-time Australian Open champion and a one-time titlist at South West 19. He has beaten Roger Federer after being double match point down, twice, and he has beaten Rafa Nadal 7 consecutive times. Titles? He has them. Winning against rivals? Check. Novak Djokovic has accomplished everything and more that little 12-year old dreamed of so many years ago. But, like every tennis player, he has reiterated time and again that the one tournament he has dreamed of winning is this one. Of course he wants it. Winning this tournament is the pinnacle of our sport, it is the highest honour that can ever be achieved. So who stands a better chance? Comparison of their head-to-head and their match wins this year are quite pointless, because these two are so far up the tennis ladder that everything hinges on their performance on that single day. And that is highly unpredictable. What we do know, though, is that both Djokovic and Murray are the most consistent players on tour alongside David Ferrer. They never play a bad match, and if they do, they regroup immediately and right the wrong. Djokovic’s firebrand laser-groundstroke style may be the most perfect display of tennis in history. He has no faults, no little mistakes, no weaknesses. McEnroe called Novak Djokovic ‘the most complete player in the history of the game, perhaps only second to Borg.’ And while Federer and Nadal fans might take offense at that, it could very well be true. Djokovic can attack, defend, hit inside-out forehands, down-the-line backhands, volley, serve and split and slide, all with perfect intensity. Murray employs a much-similar game style, although his ability to attack is slightly dulled. While Murray’s style may not have won him many fans, it certainly has brought him accolades and trophies, and he will look to focus on the one weapon that he has vastly improved over the past year - his serve. Murray served more aces than Jerzy Janowicz and even Fernando Verdasco in their meetings at Wimbledon this year. Need I remind you that Jerzy hit 30 aces in his Q/F win over Lukasz Kubot and Verdasco hit 35+ aces in his S/F loss to Nadal 4 years ago at Rod Laver Arena. Murray will need to attack and stay inside the baseline if he wants to win. Djokovic v/s Murray, for the fourth time in a Major final. Both players are excellent returners, and will look to massacre the second serve and that is the crucial aspect of today’s match - how much they get their first serve in, and how they can handle serving a second serve. Both of them have been serving excellently throughout the tournament, and their groundstrokes will definitely neutralise each other. Neither of them ever come to the net much, but when they do, they get the job done quite well. In the end, with all that ‘experts’ analyse and pinpoint, it will all come down to a few points, and who handles those better. Who will step up when it matters. Who will prove to themselves that they can win when it matters. Djokovic has a ton of experience in winning during pressure situations, but Murray feels he has something to prove. This is his one shot at eternal status among the pantheon of tennis greats. Will he let himself down? I have no illusions about my prediction skills, I am very bad at it and I don’t see the point, because anything can happen. But let me give it a shot anyway. The winner of this match will be the boy who won that match 15 years ago. That boy held his nerve when it mattered and he will do it again today.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 08:32:37 +0000
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