Semi Final no.1 Juan Martin del Potro V/s Novak Djokovic

1st Set, 7^th game- Its three sets all. Djokovic is serving.  We see that terrible cross court forehand from Del Potro and though Djokovic reached it, sheer power of that stroke rendered the return impossible.

Djokovic holds and is up four games to three.  Centre Court is choc- a- block and Henman hill retains its festive spirit outside. 

8^th game- Del Potro is serving.   A lame return gifts Djokovic a point and another big serve from the giant equals the score.  Djokovic hits the ball in disgust as he hits the forehand wee bit long off the baseline.   A wonderful volley from Djokovic  cuts Potro’s cross court backhand short and a well-earned point that.  The good news is both the players are playing their game without trouble. Though I see some signs of trouble in Djokovic’s down the line backhand that often catches his opponents on the wrong foot.  Twice now it has landed out.

9^th game- Dhokovic is.  Strong serves earns him 30-love.  Its 40 love now.  Djokovic’s service looking good.  Oh Oh another down the line backhand lands outside the sidelines. 7 unforced errors from Djokovic as against two from del Potro.  Potro hits a cross court backhand deep and then a down the line forehand to have Djokovic scrambling to return unsuccessfully.  But a terrific serve from Djokovic helps him hold and he now leads five games to four.

Potro serving in the 10^th game and another missed backhand, into the net it goes taking Djokovic’s tally of errors to 8, oh and one more, to 9.  Del Potro’s forehands are looking menacing with each game.  But he hits a backhand wide. Aha that forehand is good, it looked like he hit it deep so Potro moved behind the baseline but it fell way short of the baseline.  Djokovic serving the 11the game and misses oh that forehand from potro, it was over before Djokovic reached the net, Awesome crosscourt forehand but the linesman called it out and it was clearly out!
Del Potro is now serving to take the set to a tie break.  Del Potro hits a cross court backhand, seemingly unreachable if you run to hit, but Djokovic now puts his invisible skis on and slides into it and hits the backhand even as the slide continues. Extraordinary.  This is the backhand shot that I am talking about and the one that Djokovic has missed three to four times in the first set.  Long rally followed and a magnificent drop shot by Djokovic to win this one.  Potro now serving to stay in the set.  Oh oh, an error from Del potro and Djokovic ina position to break Potro.  30-40, Potro might want to hit an ace here to save a break point.  And Djokovic breaks Potro after 55 minutes takes the set 7-5.  Two errors from Del Potro proving costly.

Djokovic serving in the second set.  Looking all well ensconced. Strong forehand a good shot selection help Djokovic hold.  Djokovic leading one game to love in the second set.  That’s another backhand from Djokovic that has landed outside but it’s a return of serve so I am giving him the benefit of doubt.  And just when I thinks Del Potro’s game is dipping, he runs languidly to the ball and hits a forehand that is sharp, close to the net and come from top down at crazy speed. Ferocious!

Long tiring rallies look to be the thing of the present in this semi final. Mean rallies where the ball appears from centre of the court and lands magically at impossible nooks and crannies on the other side but the ball comes back as ever with more power and bounce and spin and trajectory that will put a missile to shame or should I say crazy ball? And del Potro clutches his knees after a seemingly endless one.  That’s great backhand from Del Potro, catching the serve early and returning as Djokovic was nowhere near the ball.  Djokovic holds his serve and now leads two games to one.  Up to this point I don’t see any serve and volleys at all. 

And as if reading my mind, De Potro comes to the net and makes himself vulnerable to a blistering forehand from Djokovic and it lands in the net (fortunately for him), 11^th or 12^th unforced error from Djokovic, the kind we see from doubles or lesser players.  Del Potro serving the 4^th game and holds.

Djokovic serving the 5^th game, fires two quick aces and is up 30 love.  Coming to the net is not really working for the players. The one time that Del Potro came, it opened up the court for Djokovic and the one time that Djokovic came del Potro won that point.  So far there have been a couple of drop shots from Djokovic, none from Del Potro, plenty of slicing and dicing and exactly one volley from Djokovic . There has been a lot of slicing primarily to give the players some breathing space when they have been at the receiving end of a shot.  It is the baseline that is dictating matters and who is able to outrun and outlast. Rallying with Djokovic is the wrong strategy. He can rally forever.  Now again as if reading my mind, Del Potro comes to the net and cuts his Djokovic’s full- on forehand with a crosscut volley. Well played and he fires an ace to level score at deuce.  A good serve and Del Potro in position to dictate the terms of the shot. Advantage.  Djokovic volleys and levels score. But a backhand hit wide earns him a break point.  Djokovic sends one into space and score is level again.  Djokovic rushes to the net again and uses the drop volley to gain him advantage.  Break point no 2.  A strong serve from Del Potro and score level again.  122 mph from the big man. 

Djokovic serving the 7^th game and a delicious forehand, on the sweet spot, on the line earns him a love 15.  What a point from Del Potro! He was well beyond the baseline when Djokovic hit a drop shot and he sprinted  to the net and flicked the ball.  Potro is now up love 40. Three break points and Del Potro breaks Djokovic for the first time.  Pumps his fists and celebrates.  Now will Djokovic come back roaring an not give Del Potro chance to leverage his break?

Its adavantage Del Potro now,  and he breaks! Del Potro now leads in the second by five games to three. Djokovic now serving to stay in the set and fires four aces in row and holds.  Will Del Potro be able to hold his serve or will Djokovic break him back?

Del Potro up at 15 love. Another goo d serve but a challenge from Djokovic.  Its 2.49 pm in London and Juan Martin del Potro takes the first set 6-4 in 44 minutes. 

Djokovic serves the first game of the third set.

A wonderful cross court from  Djokovic.  Approaching the net is not working again, And out of his hat, Djokovic hits his wonderfully nonchalant backhand down the line and on the line.  He holds comfortably. 

Del Potro serving the 2^nd game and he holds.  What has been the highlight of the match so far are the engaging rallies- long and exhausting .  testing the will of each player to reach the ball and hit it productively not just return.  Aha another interesting point.  Djokovic lobs, Del potro chases and turns around and hits a forehand, wide.  An ace down the middle and Djokovic is up 40 love. 

Djokovic serving the 5^th game of the 3^rd set and he holds after tense moments when it looked like Del Potro might break him. Del Potro serving the 6^th game, a rally of 17 strokes ends in the net and Del potro is up 15 love, in response Djokovic raises his hand as if to smash the racket….gently..nothing serious.  An error from Del potro gifts Djokovic his first point in the game.  Del potro holds after this last point of 21 shots.

Back from a half hour break, and Djokovic has won the set in a tie break that he won comfortably.  I see Del Potro tiring and he is playing the man who played the longest final (in a single day) in grand slam history- 5 hours and 57 minutes and won it against another giant- Nadal.  Are his knees troubling him? 4^th game, Djokovic is serving and he fires an ace to hold his serve.  Both are now two games all.

Del Potro serving the 5^th game in the 4^th set- and holds. 

Its 4.27 at Wimbledon and Del Potro works a beautiful forehand. 6^th game and Del Potro up love 15.  Djokovic serves down the T and score is leveled.  Djokovic hits a drop shot and Del potro runs to it comfortably but hit it out.  There is a brief smiling banter between the two players as Del Potro’s momentum carries him over to Djokovic’s side.  Djokovic holds.

7^th game- Another missed down the line backhand and he screams, looks heaven ward. 100 errors from Djokovic  forced and unforced (48 totally in the match).  And a great forehand, the ball coming above Djokovic’s shoulders.  An error from Del Potro gives Djokovic two break points. Second serve from Potro and two breaks points for Djokovic.  Defensive tennis has been abandoned and we see impossible tennis being played at this juncture,  forehands and backhand, drop shots and sliced forehand and then there are those slides from Djokovic that only he can do, barring clijsters  AND and he has the break, Djokovic breaks Del Potro and Djokovic leads 4 games to 3.  

8^th game- Djokovic serving- fires an ace and the score is 15 all. Another 122mph from Djokovic and another point in the bag.  By now Djokovic is missing those trademark backhands of his with a regularity that will delight Murray should both win their semi finals But wait, Del Potro wins a point and gets a break point and a magnificent forehand from Del Potro breaks Djokovic. Both are at 4 games each.

9^th game- Del Potro serving and a cracking return by Djokovic and one more return to send Djokovic up love 30.  But Del Potro holds and leads by five game to four.

10^th game- Djokovic serving now to stay in the set. Will it be a tie breaker in Djokovic’s favour or will it extend to a 5 set piece?

4^th set, tie break, Djokovic gets a min-break on Del Potro’s serve. He is up love 1, Djokovic serves and when a rally is in in full swing, Del Potro challenges a forehand hit by Djokovic and it is in, a costly challenge especially since he was in a position to return it.  But don’t worry, Djokovic returned the favour and Del potro won his first point of the tie break.  Djokovic is leading 4 points to 3.  Del Potro is serving to keep his dream of a Wimbledon final alive.  He hits a backhand in the corner that Djokovic returned and as he scrambled down the centre, Del POtro hit in the same spot Djokovic stumbles slips as he attempts to change direction.  Score is 4 all.  What a point! Djokovic hits deep and Del potro lobs as Djokovic  smashes and Del Potro returns and Djokovic hits a back hand volley.  Djokovic is now up 6 points to 4 and match point for him…..and this rally lasts 21 shots I think but give or take a few, the drama of this point doesn’t lessen- Djokovic  slides and lobs and Del Potro throws up his hands and racket to will the ball out and the ball lands out.  It is five points to four and Del Potro’s forehand levels the break…five points all. Please somebody check my blood pressure. And Del potro wins the 4^th set in a scintillating tie-break.

5^th set. Who will win?

1^st Game- Djokovic serving first, and holds comfortably and we are four hours and nine minutes into the match.  Djokovic is playing his 13^th consecutive grand slam final. Wow!

This is a semifinal truly worthy of a grand slam and worth every penny that has cost me for a ticket.  Del Potro’s forehand is coming good whenever he needs it, It comes at you from a height and descends suddenly like a roller coaster ride plunging into an abyss without warning. It has speed, precision, power and a finality of no-return!

Del Potro has risen to the challenge, has been a worthy opponent and has called on shots at his will. He has made Djokovic explore every inch of the court in case he has forgotten, played deftly, with certainty and not forgotten to smile! That is important. No this is not an obituary. It is only a testimony to a novel situation where  there are unfamiliar figures occupying the centre court and therefore different behaviours than we are used to.  While a Nadal or Federer or even Murray are playing, there are no smiles and no respite. Only ruthlessness and single minded pursuit of the opponent’s destruction 

It surprises me that Del potro has hit just three aces to nineteen from Djokovic.  Like the fastest of bowlers, he has probably traded speed for consistency and it has served him well.  Alarmingly less unforced errors as compared to Djokovic who is committing unforced errors like they are going out of style.

What a return, 5^th game, and Del Potro returns with a casual backhand down the line, Djokovic doesn’t bother to even make a move.  But Djokovic serves well and then rushes to the ball and finishes with a backhand down the line. Again a great serve gives him advantage. His last serve fired at 127 mph. His 21^st ace, 22^nd and counting, Djoko now up 40 -30 and game Djokovic. Djokovic leads three games to two.

It is 5.33, sky is holding well while Del Potro chomps on his banana as his physiologist massages his back and ribs.  The match is now 4 hours and 29 minutes long.

8^th game- And oh what a game what a game!.  Every joints, each skill tested to the limit, every muscle stretched in an effort to retrieve and return the yellow fluff.  Djokovic breaks Del Potro and leads by five games to three.  And here is where remains to be see as to who will blink, wil del potro come back to break Djokovic or will Djokovic hold and book his place in the finals? Or has Del Portro already blinked? But as an armchair enthusiast and a marginal player of the game it will be unfair for me to say that Del Potro blinked.  The logic being that every match has to reach its logical conclusion to make only one man the winner.  But beyond a certain point, there are no winners, there are only brave hearts!

In this match, every game has been different, dramatic, tense, and the much trodden ground around the baseline has been getting balder and balder; the surface gets slippery, Djokovic panting and serving. Djokovic hits a forehand deep so that potro has to run to out of the court to hit it and then Djokovic hits a badminton drop shot.  That was tense.  Djokovic serves, it is 30 all.  Del Potro shows no signs of nerves and plays as freely as if it were the first set and not like someone who is trying to save the match and wins a point to level the score.  That was a delicate drop shot from Djokovic.  Great serve from Djokovic and match point for him.  And he has got it, the down the line back hand delivering at last when it mattered.  The players hug and part. What a match, what a match,  Djokovic thumps his chest and roars.  What an extraordinary tennis match and a level of ferocity not seen from the gentle giant. Novak Djokovic wins to book his place in the second Wimbledon final.