Djokovic Maintains Perfection at 32-0 With Win Over Nadal in Madrid Open Finals
May 9, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Credit: John Foxx
Serbian Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect 32-0 undefeated start to the 2011 season on Sunday against Spaniard Rafael Nadal on Sunday with a 7-5, 6-4 win in the finals of the Madrid Open. The second-ranked Djokovic squandered a 4-0 lead in the first set, but recovered to end Nadal’s latest winning streak on clay at 37 matches and earn the Serbian his third straight victory over Nadal in finals this season. Djokovic earned $849,000 for the victory.
Djokovic’s sixth title of 2011 allowed moves him past Bjorn Borg’s 31-match season-opening run in 1980. He is 10 consecutive wins behind John McEnroe’s 42-0 start in 1984.
“I’m happy I can play the best tennis when I needed to and maybe that was lacking a lot in the past,” Djokovic said. “Maybe that’s what was missing against Rafa and Roger in the past tournaments.”
