Novak Djokovic reigned supreme in Beijing for the 4th year in a row and 6th overall, as he handily beat long-time, arch-rival Rafael Nadal in straight sets. The blockbuster clash between the two behemoths of men’s tennis was their first in a Final, since the 2014 Roland Garros Showdown. Djokovic however showed why he’s won 6 of the last 7 matches between the pair and both this year, with an utterly dominant victory, dropping just 4 games. Djokovic extending his undisputed dominance at the top of the World with his 56th career title and 8th of the season. In the Women’s Final though, Nadal’s compatriot Garbine Muguruza was celebrating after capturing her biggest ever title, after defeating Timea Bacszinsky in straight sets.
ATP China Open: Day 7 Sun, The Final
Djokovic bt Nadal : 6-2, 6-2
Novak Djokovic truly showed everyone why he is the undisputed World No1 of Men’s tennis, with a clinical ruthless display over Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic who’s never lost in the China Open, winning a staggering 28 matches in a row (2nd longest ATP Tour streak at a single event- broke tie with Jimmy Connors earlier in the week), gave his arch-rival Nadal a lesson and really showed Rafa the gulf between him and the top guy.
Coming into the 45th showdown between the pair (most of any pair in men’s history), Novak had had Rafa’s number in 6 of their past 7 meetings, with Nadal’s last win coming in the 2014 Roland Garros Final.
Novak also had won both matches this year, at Monte Carlo and ending Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros.
Short end of the straw is that the match was actually short and didn’t live up to it’s slight hype. Most observers knew Nadal would have a tough task ahead of him, if he was to get his first victory over the Serb in more than a year.
In the first set, as was to be expected, Djokovic sensed blood first. With an early break in the bag, Djokovic never let up, even if Nadal had two chances for a break back down 3-2. In the end Novak held and broke Nadal again to wrap up the opener by 6-2.
The 2nd set was more or less a mirror copy of the first, with Djokovic yet again dominating and Nadal there abouts, but almost not totally there.
Eventually Novak asserted his authority and crusied to his 4th China Open in a row, taking it by 6-2.
World Tennis News:
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 