Novak Djokovic retains control of China to set up an intriguing year ahead

It wasn’t easy. Many a time , it seemed like one of those days as the gigantic Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro powered his characteristic hammer forehands down the line . In the tenth game of the third set, the former World Number One and defending Champion Novak Djokovic had a chance to close out the match and retain his title. But Del Potro saved the match point and took the deciding set into a tie break.

2013 has been a disappointing year for Novak Djokovic. At first sight, it may seem an incredulous suggestion that a man whose worst performance in a grandslam in this year was a semi final appearance (and he was one service game away from winning that epic battle against Nadal at Roland Garos)has had a bad year. But for a man who is as accustomed to success as Novak Djokovic is , losses against Nadal , Murray and Nadal again in the majors after the Australian Open, would have been hard to take. He seemed in sublime touch at the start of the year. With Nadal’s future hanging in the balance ahead of the clay court season, 2013 seemed to be destined as the year where Djokovic could become the first man since Rod Laver to complete a calendar grandslam. However , as things would span out, Nadal came back stronger than expected and not only defended his French Open but also conquered most of the masters title and added icing to the cake by winning the US Open.

The hunter (Djokovic) had become the hunted, thanks to Nadal’s resilience. And thus , tournaments after the US Open (Beijing, Shanghai, Paris Masters, ATP World Tour Finals) all assumed more importance than usual (according to many tennis enthusiasts , the year ends with the US Open). Nadal capturing Djokovic’s territories - Shanghai in particular - would send out a huge signal ahead of 2014. That would have left Djokovic with only Melbourne as his trusted tournament .

And thus, as all great Champions do, Djokovic came out fighting. In a mouthwatering, direct face off in the final of the Beijing Open, Djokovic powered to a victory over the Spaniard. And in Shanghai, Del Potro (the most under achieving tennis player of this generation) sprang a surprise (it really shouldn’t be a surprise because Del Potro is talented enough to regularly beat Nadal , Djokovic and Murray) and beat Nadal in the semi final to set up a clash with the Serb in the final.

The final in itself was a two and half hour thriller. Djokovic and Del Potro played the match of the year (Wimbledon Semi Final) and probably played the point of the year too in the third set tie break. With the score tied at 3-3 in the tie break, Del Potro served big, hammered three forehands…..and this is where the difference between Djokovic and Del Potro was apparent. Djokovic withstood the assault with the thinnest of touches, and then at half a chance, finished off the point with an amazing inside out forehand. He roared. And despite having just a point advantage, onlookers knew that there was only one winner.

As the tennis caravan moves to Europe for the final proceedings of the year, Djokovic has withstood the Nadal assault. The result of those two will determine how furtive Djokovic will be when he steps out to defend his beloved Melbourne crown. But China remains a Djokovic zone ..for now