Wimbledon Men's Final 2011:Novak Djokovic Victorious, Takes #1 over Rafael Nadal

With the start of a Rafael Nadal match, running back to the baseline for groundies, volleys and overheads is routine.

For pre-match warmups, like getting ready to run with the Bulls of Pomplona, Nadal is keenly focused on his tennis. With a gallop, Nadal gives us a brief moment to reflect how he has entertained us over the years.

With power, speed and a stronghold on the game, Rafael has the repertoire of few, anointed with that special mix of a Champions call to glory.

Much the same can be said for Novak Djokovic, with his stealthy strokes, laser vision and artistic game. In addition to his hold on the game, Novak will be on record, as of July 4th, the No. 1 player in the World. 

The question then becomes, if he ends this year in the No. 1 spot, it would be a first.

He has finished No. 3 at the end of the year on four consecutive seasons ('07, '08, '09, '10) and was runner-up at the US Open in ('07, '10), the next Grand Slam on the calendar.

Of course you have the US and Canadian hard-court season culminated by the US Open, followed by Davis Cup. Djokovic's Davis Cup record is (7-0) in singles, which is what he single handedly did in defeating France (d. 3-2) in 2010 for a grasp of the Davis Cup title for Serbia.

What we may gather from the first set is that both players did not have a “getting to know you” period.

From jump, Djokovic fought to hold serve. Nadal, playing out of sorts a bit, gets broken in the 10th game as Novak collects the first set 6-4.

At the end of the first set, we were informed from the commentators that Novak has had four forehand winners to three for Rafael. With set two on the way, this game of fast exchanges leaves little time for reflection.

A great reason for the commentators and communications department to help with the numbers, is their accurate information in a timely manner. That is a good reason for listening to the cue’s the broadcasters make to the audience.

Starting in set No. 2, the first game elicited a slight change of momentum, 30-0 to Nadal. The Serbian came right back and did not relinquish the first game of the second set.

In game two of set two, Djokovic had two break points at 40-15 off of the Spaniard's serve. True to his efforts, Novak breaks Rafa off of a solid volley at the net. It's 2-0 with Djokovic serving next.

Djokovic started working the backhand of Nadal, and he held for a 3-0 lead marked by an ace. Nadal holds the subsequent game to arrive at 3-1. Following, Djokovic holds once again and the set score is now 4-1.

Novak had 19 of 26 approaches to the net while Rafael had six of nine in the tilt.

It may be of note that Nadal comes to the net selectively. The courts are another factor to net approaches by both competitors. If they play hard, than this surface assists those with a good ground game, and if they are soft and slick, it lends itself to the serve and volley.

With the next few service games, Djokovic holds a 5-1 lead in set two. There may be no impetus to come to the net for Novak, as he has gotten another break point in the sixth game of the second set without the short game.

Novak follows this up with another break, the second in set two and leads 5-1. Novak holds his serve again and takes the second set 6-1.

If set one and two were any indication of how the crowd was being treated at “Breakfast at Wimbledon,” they had Royalty to thank for the “pomp and circumstance” and Novak and Rafa for the performance.

With a slight lull in the crowd, Nadal saw set three as an opportunity to start the change of momentum. He quickly stretched out a 3-0 lead and with another break of serve, scored 4-1 in favor of the Mallorcan.

Coming full circle with an ace off the Rafa racket, a few unforced errors crept in to the Serbian's game. With a 5-1 double break lead, Nadal put the icing on the cake with another hold and a 6-1 third set.

There were chances their in the third set that Novak passed on. Maybe the opportunity to come to the net a few times or at other break point opportunities. As Nadal eased his way back into this match, some lulls in the Djokovic game started to become untangled.

In set four, we begin to realize that both competitors were decidedly undecided about taking the match from the other. Djokovic approached the net, and was resoundingly turned away by a passing shot.

There were other opportunities for Novak to assert his game on the Spaniard's. With Djokovic serving, he held at 1-0. The following two games were telling, as Djokovic finishes the game off with a winner and a 2-0 lead.

With the following game on Nole's serve, Rafa breaks back to hold steady at 2-1.

On Nadal's serve, Rafa pulls back to 2-2. Following Novak's serve, he goes back to the slice backhand a few more times than Rafa.

Feeling out the other player usually occurs at the beginning of a match, but since we did not have that, now is a better time than any to get the bow's out of the way.

This can easily be explained by nerves, with who wants it more, and who is more pensive to move up than the other. Who is going take the mantle of Wimbledon Champion away this glorious morning?

Nervous energy can make you freeze up or fast foward, but we didn't see much of that point in this match. Let's face it, winning Wimbledon, or any Grand Slam for that matter, isn't easy by any measure.

With Djokovic's next service hold, we bring the score on the abacus to 3-2 Nole. In game six, Nadal utilized the short court which had been mostly unused up to this point.

Winning a match is more like out thinking your competitor while on your feet rather than relying on strict athleticism, with both players fitness levels being equal.

Nadal brings the fourth set to 3-3. Djokovic has also been asserting his all court game in the short court as well, with passing shots and changes of pace.

Here we can see some interesting numbers as Novak is five of six on break points converted and Nadal, three of six.

Novak breaks once again and the match score is 5-3 in favor of the Serbian. In the final game, Djokovic serves and volleys at Championship point. Never predictable, Djokovic puts the volley away for the crown at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon Championships.

We can gather from the Match Stats that Djokovic served seven aces to five for Nadal. Nadal had three more errors than Djokovic, and winning percentage on second serve was 54 percent for Djokovic and 44 percent for Nadal.

Novak hit 27 winners to 21 for Rafa. The final set lasted 44 minutes, the most of any previous set in the match.

All Champions at the annual Wimbledon event have lifetime passes to utilize the courts at the AELTC. The final match score was 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in favor of Novak Djokovic.