French Open final - Djokovic vs. Nadal

Submitted by snarling wolverine on

Djokovic is going for history (a career Grand Slam, plus four GS titles in a row) but he's up against the king of clay, Nadal, going for his seventh French title.  

Nadal won the first two sets (interrupted by a rain delay) but Djokovic just won the third.  Comeback in the making?

enginblue09

June 10th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^

It is first to 6 games win by 2 unless it is 6-6 and then you go to a tie-breaker (first to 7 points win by 2).  This is applicable for the first 4 sets.

Then if it is the 5th set, it's win by 2 no matter what, so the 5th set can go on as long as needed. (and this is in contrast to the US Open which does play a tiebreaker in the 5th set to keep it short for TV)

If I've confused you (it's all rather confusing)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_score

Nard Dogg

June 10th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^

A set is to 6, win by two (so 6-0 through 6-4). However if it's 6-5 that is not by two, so you can win a set 7-5. But if they tie it up at 6-6, you go to a tie breaker which is playing to 7 points (counting normally), win by two. The only time they don't play a tie breaker is in the 5th set at certain Grand Slams, where they play until someone goes up by too (see: Isner/Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon).

d.

June 10th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^

I imagine the rain will stick around until tomorrow, but I hope they get back at it.  Too bad there was a delay, Novak was a different player after the first one.

mzdmv

June 10th, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^

Just FYI, weather calls for rain all week. They're going to try to finish this as quickly as possible.

 

I'm a couple neighborhoods over from Roland Garros and the weather looks awful. It's really been raining all afternoon and won't stop until Wednesday.

rbgoblue

June 10th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

Nadal was being a real bitch at the end.  Complaining about the rain after almost every point, while dropping 8 straight games to the Djoker.  Last I checked, they were both playing in the same conditions.  He was getting worked.

SamirCM

June 10th, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^

The advantage to clay is that it softens the ball, so power tennis is not really as useable. There is a reason that Sampras would just kill at Wimbledon and then lose in the first round at the French Open. Rain really affects Nadal far worse as he is so used to the surface to slide into the ball and use his momentum to get maximum force onto the ball. I agree with him for complaning, esp as the long rain delay came first when he had him on the ropes.