Novak Djokovic's favorite ATP memory vs. Rafael Nadal

11/27/2024 05:15 AM

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal forged the greatest rivalry in the Open era. Two grand champions battled 60 times between Roland Garros 2006 and the Olympic Games this summer, with Novak scoring 31 victories. Speaking on their rivalry, Djokovic picked one of his favorite duels against Nadal.

Novak revived their incredible encounter in the 2011 Miami Masters final. Following a thrilling battle, he prevailed over the Spaniard 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 in three hours and 22 minutes, extending his winning streak since the beginning of the season. Djokovic lifted his first Miami Masters trophy since 2007. 

He also became the fourth player since 1990 to conquer the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami at the beginning of the season. Novak and Rafa played their 14th hard-court match, and the Serb delivered his ninth victory, continuing where he left in Indian Wells.

Nadal chased his first Miami Masters crown and made a reliable start. He recovered from dropping the second set and pushed an in-form rival to the limits in the decider before falling short. 

10 years later and still one of the greatest 🙌 ATP Tour Flashback presented by Nitto takes us back to the 2011 Miami Open final between Rafa Nadal & Novak Djokovic 👀 pic.twitter.com/rhxaia63Nr

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 31, 2021

Djokovic collected 13 points more than Nadal. He defended his second serve superbly and faced only four break points. The Serb dropped serve two times and kept the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard played against nine break points and erased seven.

He remained competitive for over three hours before losing ground in the decisive moments. Djokovic played aggressive tennis, hitting more winners and unforced errors. He drew more forced mistakes from world no. 1 and had the upper hand when it mattered the most. 

Novak built the advantage in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, taming his strokes nicely and emerging at the top in another memorable final. 

The Serb kicked off the action with a hold at love. However, he struggled behind the initial shot at 1-1, with Nadal firing a backhand down the line winner for a break and an early advantage. Novak made a push on the return in the fourth game, creating three break chances.

Nadal denied them, the second with a forehand winner after nearly 30 strokes. Rafa welcomed Novak's loose shots, holding and moving 3-1 in front. Djokovic lost the ground after missing his chances. He sprayed a forehand error in the fifth game to experience another break.

Serving at 4-1, Nadal saved a break point and brought it home, opening a 5-1 advantage after 36 minutes. Novak had one more chance to prolong the set in the eighth game, and he seized it. He drew an error from world no. 1 to secure his first break and extend the set. 

The Serb clinched the ninth game after a deuce, reducing the gap to 5-4. Nadal served for the set in game ten and fired two service winners at 15-30. He welcomed Djokovic's forehand error on a set point, wrapping up the first part of the duel 6-4. 

Match #25, Miami 2011 Final (Djokovic-Nadal 9 : 16) pic.twitter.com/lmjAFyeaLS

— asud (@asud683385) October 21, 2024

Novak produced a fine hold at the beginning of the second set with a service winner. He made a push on the return in the next one and welcomed Rafa's huge forehand error for a break and a 2-0 advantage. Djokovic missed a backhand in the third game, smashing his racquet.

The Serb denied a break point with a service winner and closed the game to cement the lead and open a 3-0 advantage. The Spaniard reduced the deficit with a hold at 30 in game four before his rival grabbed the next one at love with a lob winner for 4-1. 

Novak landed another lob winner in the sixth game and generated two break points. Nadal denied them with unreturned serves before facing the third after Djokovic's backhand winner. The Spaniard erased it with a smash winner and held, remaining within one break deficit. 

Novak completed the seventh game with a volley winner, keeping the pressure on the other side. Rafa served to stay in the set at 2-5 and fired three winners to prolong the battle. Djokovic wrapped up the set in style, firing four winners in game nine to force a decider.

Nadal survived two deuces at the beginning of the final set and closed the game with a service winner after nine minutes. Djokovic closed the second game with a forehand winner and bounced back from 0-30 in game four, forcing the rival's mistake and locking the result at 2-2. 

Rafa held at 30 in the fifth game with a service winner. Novak responded with a forehand crosscourt winner in the next one for 3-3 and more drama. They served well in games seven and eight, terminating them with winners and staying neck and neck. 

Nadal welcomed Djokovic's forehand error in the ninth game, moving 5-4 up and keeping the pressure on the other side. Novak endured it in the tenth game, producing a fine hold and keeping his chances alive. The Spaniard delivered a hold at love in the 11th game with four winners. 

The Serb served to stay in the match for the second time at 5-6. He stood two points from the exit door after the rival's cracking backhand down the line winner. Novak grabbed the fourth point with a service winner and brought the game home, introducing a deciding tie break.

Nadal moved 2-1 up with another strong backhand crosscourt, and Djokovic responded with a reliable forehand for 2-2. World no. 1 hit a costly double fault in the fifth point to fall 3-2 behind and run out of steam. Novak grabbed two points on serve to forge a 5-2 advantage. 

The Serb painted a forehand down the line winner in the eighth point, extending his streak and generating four match points. Rafa denied two before Novak converted the third with a forehand crosscourt winner, prevailing in a memorable final and lifting his seventh Masters 1000 crown.

"Rafa and I had plenty of great matches. The one that comes to my mind right now is the 2011 Miami Masters final. We went to the distance, and I won 7-6 in the third set," Novak Djokovic said.