2012 French Open – Men's Singles final

French Open Men's Final

Rafael Nadal (2) vs. Novak Djokovic (1)
Set 1 2 3 4 Rafael Nadal 6 6 2 7 Novak Djokovic 4 3 6 5
Date	Sunday 10–Monday 11 June 2012
Tournament	French Open
Location	Paris, France

The 2012 French Open Men's Singles final was the championship tennis match of the Men's Singles tournament at the 2012 French Open. In the final, Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 to win the match. It was the Major final match which had historic proportions, as Rafael Nadal was looking to become the first man to win seven French Open titles, thus breaking the record previously held by Björn Borg, who won six titles, and equalling the record held by Chris Evert, who won seven titles, whilst Novak Djokovic was looking to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold each of the four Major titles simultaneously. As well, Djokovic had defeated Nadal in the previous 3 Grand Slam finals and Nadal was trying to avoid coming runner-up in all 4 tournaments to the same man.

Match

Rafael Nadal won the first set 6–4, Nadal gaining a break of serve after a long attritional battle. There were several delays due to the erratic rain, but none lasting more than an hour. With Nadal leading by two sets to one, and Djokovic leading 2–1 and serving (up a break) in the fourth set, the match was suspended due to rain; it was initially thought that Djokovic had gained the momentum, having won eight games in a row prior to the suspension of the match, however, Nadal was able to regroup and take the fourth set, and ultimately the match, after Djokovic double-faulted on championship point down.

Statistics

Category	Nadal	Djokovic
1st serve %	60 of 99 = 61%	55 of 95 = 58%
Aces	3	2
Double faults	4	3
Unforced errors	23	40
Winning % on 1st serve	33 of 60 = 55%	34 of 55 = 62%
Winning % on 2nd serve	20 of 43 = 47%	17 of 43 = 40%
Winners	29	33
Receiving points won	40 of 95 = 42%	43 of 99 = 43%
Break point conversions	7 of 15 = 47%	7 of 10 = 70%
Net approaches	7 of 13 = 54%	16 of 23 = 70%
Total points won	125	116
Fastest serve	203 km/h	205 km/h
Average 1st serve speed	184 km/h	187 km/h
Average 2nd serve speed	142 km/h	150 km/h

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Djokovic and Nadal about the match

Djokovic: "I could have easily lost the match in the fourth round or even more against Tsonga, but I managed to come to the finals for the first time in my career," Djokovic said. "I should be happy about that, of course. I will be, and I am, but in this moment I am disappointed about this loss because I thought I started to play better in the third set and felt like I could take this match to a fifth set and then everything could be possible, but there was a rain delay when I started to feel really good on the court".

Nadal: "When you lose, it's because you don't deserve the title,". "So in my mind, this was the final I had to win. That's why I was so emotional".

Toni Nadal after the match

"For us, it was very important to win here now against Djokovic, because we knew that if he won again, the fourth one, then (Rafa) completing a Grand Slam of losses would have been ugly, and we were very close to doing that."

See also

• Djokovic–Nadal rivalry
• 2012 French Open – Men's Singles
• 2012 Australian Open – Men's Singles final
• Longest tennis match records

External links

• Djokovic–Nadal head-to-head