ICYMI: Djokovic Caps Off Spring Hard Court Season With 4th Straight Masters 1000 title
Steen Kirby, Tennis East Coast
Novak Djokovic won his fourth Sony Open in Miami, and his fourth straight Masters 1000 level event (Shanghai, Paris, Indian Wells, Miami) on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3 routine drubbing of world number 1 Rafael Nadal, his third straight victory against the rival Spaniard.
Nadal was surprisingly poor and never got his game tuned in, while Novak exposed his weaknesses and was in firm control the entire match, putting his foot on the gas from a set and a break up, as a Rafa comeback charge was halted.
Novak only had to play 4 matches this week, as he got 2 walkovers against Florian Mayer and Kei Nishikori in the semifinals. Both mens semis were walkovers for the first time in the open era. Djokovic’s wins were against Jeremy Chardy, Tommy Robredo and Andy Murray, all without dropping a set, a good hallmark for him.
Nadal returned to form and looks formidable getting back to his favored red clay, as he beat Lleyton Hewitt, Denis Istomin and Fabio Fognini in blowout straight sets, Milos Raonic in a competitive 3 setter and got the walkover against Tomas Berdych. This was the first world number 1 vs world number 2 meeting this season, as Indian Wells and the Aussie Open didn’t pan out as expected.
The Bryans won the doubles against Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah, their second straight Masters 1000 title as they won Indian Wells.
Tennis Atlantic 