Fourth-ranked Rafael Nadal once again edged top-ranked and two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2) in a tough three-set semifinal match at the Montreal Masters 2013. The Spaniard is now attempting to win his 25th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title but he had to defeat hometown favorite Milos Raonic of Canada on Sunday’s final.
Nadal already has the most number of ATP 1000 Masters titles at 24 out of 36 finals he has contested. He’s gunning for his fourth Masters 1000 title this year alone following victories in Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome. He finished runner up in Monte-Carlo.
The two-time Rogers Cup champion already compiled more ranking points this year than Djokovic which increases his chances of finishing the year as world number one. His rival, Novak Djokovic, will be aiming for a rare Career Golden Masters in Cincinnati (the only ATP 1000 event the Serbian has not won).
“I said yesterday the only chance to win against Novak, the only tactic is to play very well,” Nadal said. “To play very well, I have to play aggressive. If not, I cannot play very well on this kind of surface. And I did. I played a very high level tonight, I think. I played with the right decisions in the important moments. Yes, the serve worked well during the whole night. And the shots from the baseline, I tried to stay very close to the baseline, go inside when I had the chance.”
The loss once again brings the memory of the Roland Garros 2013 semifinal match between these two where Nadal once again prevailed in a five-set thriller despite Djokovic leading by a break in the fifth.
“It was very close match,” Djokovic said. “So, I mean, there were very few points that decided the winner. Can’t really pick one moment. I had my chances. He had his chances. You know, I guess at the end he played better… Whenever we play against each other, it’s always a thrilling match for the crowd to see. We are both competing at the high level. We both want to win these matches.”
Nadal now has a 21-15 head to head series lead over Djokovic. The Spaniard will be the heavy favorite in the final, having won the past two meetings against Raonic.
