Sporting contests to remember: The Battle for Australian Supremacy
29th January, 2012. A day that will be remembered, analysed, studied, exemplified and revered as the day not only the crowds, but Tennis itself was shown the beauty, courage and stamina by players who left no stone unturned to win. A match written down in the archives of tennis that will stand out and show the world that when when you give all you got, you produce something magical, something pure. On this day, it was not the Djoker who won, but the sport of Tennis that was victorious.
The match did not start out that strongly; Novak was broken twice by Nadal. The set was, as some would say, lukewarm and Nadal had little problem in overcoming Novak. Perhaps Djoker was a little tired; after all he had fought another gruesome battle just 48 hours ago against Andy Murray; an athlete who always gives in his best, an athlete who pushes not only himself to the limit but also tests the nerves of his opponent. A reason for Nadal being able to hit back to those rippling shots from Djokovic is because that he was standing so far away from the baseline, every time Djokovic tried to get a point off Nadal, he hit back with a ferocity that matches of warring forces.
Tennis enthusiasts will know that Djokovic is a very strong technical player, so it was just a matter of time before he came to the party. In the 2nd and 3rd sets, Djoker showed Nadal that he was not to be taken lightly; he had held his ground earlier and he would do everything it takes to do so again. The game had reached a stage when it was getting a little too boring. But who knew that this was just the quiet that creeps up on you, leaving you lax, unprepared for what was to come; for the Pandora’s Box was just about to be opened.
Three sets of calm had been shattered; the game was on now, the battle had started. This was not just a battle to win the throne; it was turning into something beautiful, something powerful, and something of a Legend in itself. Not only the players, but the crowd too was feeling, breathing and living the rhythm of the Game.
The fourth set was over; the result: Nadal had won 7-6(5) and had proven himself as a worthy Challenger. Even the word “limit” would have shied away from him; the way he pushed himself and ran after every ball was like a man possessed. On this day, Nadal played shots from positions that I had not even thought were ever possible. I was like a kid who had met a superhero; I could not stop the “oohs” and “aahs”. This all had begun when at 0-40 down facing three breakpoints, he had pushed himself into top gear, something that simply amazed and at the same time frustrated Djokovic. Blow after blow was exchanged between the two; in the end, Djoker fell giving hope to Nadal that he could win, that he could prevail.
They had reached their exhaustive limit; it was now only will that was holding them there. The 5th set had begun; a long delicious, scrumptious meal was on its way. Nothing else mattered; no longer was it about victory, they had reached a point where they truly amazed at their capabilities; they knew that they might never be able to recreate a match like this again, so it was time to enjoy the moment. I believe there is point in a battle which brings out your best, that you no longer look towards the trophy, you just live in the moment, give your best and enjoy the company that you only get with an opponent so fierce and truly focused as yourself. You take the fight to another level and dance with each other like never before and inwardly smile when your opponent matches you stroke for stroke, your respect for him increases.
During this set, they set out to attack each other. If one thought that the last round was brutally fierce, they had another thing coming. The One Man Spanish Armada and The Serbian Fighter brought out all their experience they had gained over the years. The last dance had begun; every emotion was laid out bare; anger, frustration, excitation, relief and the entire spectrum of the Human Emotional System.
At 4-4 in the final set, with both of them sweating and bleeding, tired but fighting, exhausted but happy, they began an attack that would amaze the crowd with its intensity and ferocity. Not only was it the beauty of the manoeuvres but also the spirit that was shown; had tennis been a mother, she would have been proud of the sons that she had produced.
The attack would last for 32 strong strikes, one after the other, but in the end Nadal would prevail and the Djoker, for the first time, would be brought down to his knees, for the first time would look lost. The battle now had reached its last stages, Nadal had won a round, but perhaps that had made him give it his all, he was running just on fumes now, but his spirit was still intact.
The Blitzkrieg of Djoker would soon defeat Nadal; the greatest battle that they would ever fight would come to an end. The winning Roar of Djokovic would be loud and clear that perhaps it will resonate, conveying to the future that he was there he had been there, he had fought, he had won and had made a place in history. It would have made even the tennis greats sit up from their graves or look down from heaven and applaud the game that had been displayed. They would be proud to have belonged to such a game, and welcome another Goliath.
Score line: Nadal vs. Djokovic, Djoker won by 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5