2012 French Open – Men's singles final

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] Additionally, since Djokovic had defeated Nadal in the previous three Grand Slam finals, Nadal was attempting to avoid losing in all four tournaments to the same player.

French Open Men's Singles Final

Rafael Nadal (2) vs. Novak Djokovic (1)
Set 1 2 3 4 Rafael Nadal 6 6 2 7 Novak Djokovic 4 3 6 5
Date	Sunday 10–Monday 11 June 2012
Tournament	French Open
Location	Paris, France

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;[4] 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 ultimately the match, after Djokovic double-faulted on championship point down.

Statistics

Category	Nadal	Djokovic
1st serve %	60 of 99 = 61%	55 of 95 = 58%
Aces	3	2
Double faults	4	3
Winners	29	33
Unforced errors	23	40
Winning % on 1st serve	33 of 60 = 55%	34 of 55 = 62%
Winning % on 2nd serve	20 of 43 = 47%	17 of 43 = 40%
Receiving points won	40 of 95 = 42%	43 of 99 = 43%
Break point conversions	9 of 17 = 53%	7 of 10 = 70%
Net approaches	7 of 13 = 54%	16 of 23 = 70%
Total points won	125	116
Fastest serve	203 km/h	205 km/h
Average 1st serve speed	184 km/h	187 km/h
Average 2nd serve speed	142 km/h	150 km/h

_Source

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".[5]

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".[6]

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."[7]

See also

• Djokovic–Nadal rivalry
• 2012 French Open – Men's Singles
• 2012 Australian Open – Men's Singles final
• Longest tennis match records

References

1. "Rafael Nadal claims 7th French title". ESPN. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
2. "Nadal Wins Seventh French Open Title". The New York Times. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
3. French Open 2012: History beckons Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Roland Garros – Telegraph
4. "French Open: Nadal & Djokovic final suspended because of rain". BBC. 10 June 2012.
5. http://espn.go.com/tennis/french12/story/_/id/8036368/french-open-rafael-nadal-overcomes-rain-novak-djokovic
6. http://espn.go.com/tennis/french12/story/_/id/8036263/rafael-nadal-tops-novak-djokovic-record-7th-french-title
7. http://espn.go.com/tennis/french12/story/_/id/8036263/rafael-nadal-tops-novak-djokovic-record-7th-french-title

External links

• Djokovic–Nadal head-to-head