Djokovic Win Over Federer Sets Up Historic Clash With Nadal in Roland Garros Finals
June 8, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
For the third straight time in a Grand Slam final, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will meet on Sunday in the finals of the 2012 French Open. On Friday, Djokovic defeated world number three-ranked Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in Paris to set up his historic encounter with the world number two-ranked Nadal, where either Nadal will win his seventh French Open title to break the record he now shares with Bjorn Borg, or Djokovic will become the first man in 43 years to win four straight Grand Slams.
At 25 years of age, Djokovic is bidding to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously.
"I thought he played well under tough conditions," said Federer. "I wasn’t able to sustain maybe a solid enough game today. I did have enough chances, so it’s no excuse there. I tried, and it just didn’t work out today."
Federer was looking to reach the French Open Finals for the sixth time.
Overall, Nadal holds marks of 11-2 on clay and 2-1 on grass against Djokovic, while Djokovic leads 11-5 on hard courts.
