2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals: Match Review – Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Roddick
Spaniard Rafael Nadal secured a win against American Andy Roddick as he kicked off his World Tour Final title run on Monday. Having given an abysmal performance last year with no set win to his record, Nadal was extremely pleased
with his performance on Monday. In a match that lasted two hours and thirty-four minutes, Nadal managed a 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 win over the American.
Nervous about the match earlier, the Spaniard seemed at much ease after. He told the press,” [To] win a match here is very important for me. I can play with a little bit more calm the next match. But even if I lose the next
match, I’m still going to have chances to be in the semis. So that's relaxing me a little bit more. Is very positive victory for me and very, very important.”
Having never won the WTF title, Nadal entered the event with high hopes of clinching the title this time to add to his already decorated collection of all four Grand Slam wins plus an Olympic gold medal. The furthest he has ever
gone in the event was back in 2006-07 when he fell in straight sets in the semis to Roger Federer.
Returning to tennis after almost six weeks, having retired from the Paris Masters due to a shoulder injury, the Spaniard was slow in the beginning. Committing two double faults and a few unforced errors, he lagged 0-3 to the American.
Although Nadal managed to win three games in the first set, Roddick eventually won the first set 6-3. Given Nadal’s awkward performance in the first set, one could predict an American win; however, Nadal was quick to bounce back in the second set. Even though
Roddick managed a 2-1 lead in the beginning, Nadal soon caught up to engage A-Rod in a neck-to-neck run for the set win. Denying the American two consecutive game wins in the set, Rafa managed to take the set into a tiebreaker. It was in the tiebreaker that
Nadal showed why exactly he was world number one. With four aces and excellent returns, Nadal forced the match into a third set by winning the tiebreaker 7-5. Continuing his form into the third set, Nadal managed to keep a one game lead, until 5-4, over the
American. Serving for the tenth game in the final set, Nadal secured a win for himself taking the match point with an excellent ace.
Satisfied with his overall performance, Nadal commented on his match saying, “I was a little bit lucky tonight. That's the truth. But at the same time I started the match a little bit nervous. Five weeks without play. Playing
against the best players of the world in the more difficult surface for me, the first match will always be difficult. I think I was very close to losing, that's true. I was in critic situation when I lost my serve [in the second set] because that's the normal
thing. You play against one of the best servers of the world; I wasn't feeling very well on court. What I can do is try to keep playing with positive attitude, try to play a little bit better, and wait [for] the chance. It happened. For that reason, I am here
today for the victory.”
In their second 2010 meeting, Nadal has managed to up his head to head lead by one point bringing the score to 6-3 in the Spaniard's favour.
Although he lost, Roddick is satisfied with his performance. He believes he came with a game plan and has managed to execute it perfectly. He also identifies where he went wrong though giving Rafa due credit for turning the match
around in the tiebreaker; Kudos to the American for being graceful in defeat. Rafa next faces Novak Djokovic whereas Roddick will face Tomas Berdych. Both matches are scheduled for Wednesday.
Tags: