2014 French Open Championship Match Odds, Tips and Free Picks: Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Arguably the greatest rivalry in tennis history will add to its legacy this weekend when top-seeded Rafael Nadal and second-seeded Novak Djokovic meet in the finals of the 2014 French Open. The meeting will be a record 42nd between the two players and the seventh time they have met in the championship match of a major tournament. Nadal currently holds a slim 22-19 edge in the series, and the two are an even 3-3 in Grand Slam finals. For Djokovic, the French Open has been the only major that has eluded him so Sunday’s title match offers him a chance to complete a career Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Nadal will be trying to extend his own record by winning a ninth French Open title, and in the process, he could tie Pete Sampras for the second-most major titles all-time with 14. By the way, the winner of the championship match will also be the No. 1 player in the world when the new rankings are unveiled Monday. Needless to say, there is plenty at stake in this matchup.
Djokovic Wins If:
If Djokovic is going to break through at beat Nadal at Roland Garros, he has to jump on top early and control the match from start to finish. In their recent meetings, Djokovic has had a lot of success using an aggressive style, taking advantage of his power to move Nadal along the baseline and then delivering decisive winners. Djokovic will have to rely on some finesse along with power on the clay surface, but his overall, mindset can’t change. Granted, his stamina and endurance is also the stuff of legends, but Djokovic has had zero success trying to wear down and outlast Nadal at the French Open. If he is going to win, “The Joker” has to come out firing, imposing his will early and sealing the deal as quickly as possible.
Nadal Wins If:
For Nadal to win his ninth French Open title, he needs to absorb what will almost-certainly be an opening burst from Djokovic and settle into his typical game at Roland Garros. By extending points and moving Djokovic around the court with his knowledge of the surface, Nadal can slowly eat away at the speed and power of his rival. Even if he loses some points early in the match, Nadal can still move closer to his ultimate goal by making Djokovic work for every single point he gets. His biggest potential hurdle would be falling behind quickly, but as long as Nadal avoids a disastrously slow start, he should end up taking control of this match.
Bottom Line:
Djokovic has certainly been playing excellent tennis in 2014, and in fact, he has defeated Nadal in their last four meetings, picking up a win on clay in Rome. However, the French Open has always been a major exception to what has otherwise been a competitive rivalry. Nadal is a perfect 5-0 against Djokovic at Roland Garros with four of his wins coming in either the title match or semifinals. He also holds a 13-4 edge overall on Djokovic on clay surfaces. Nadal’s mastery of clay is simply unparalleled among current players, and his already-elite endurance and defensive abilities are only amplified by the slower speeds and tricky bounces produced by the surface. Yes, Djokovic got the better of Nadal in Rome, but the focus of the eight-time French Open champ is sure to be a little sharper with a major title at stake. Not to mention that the best-of-five format fits Nadal’s grinding, last-man-standing style better than the best-of-three format in Rome. Djokovic should be able to apply some pressure to Nadal early in the match, but in the end, the king of Roland Garros will retain his crown.
Prediction: Rafael Nadal Wins in 4 Sets