After a year-end tennis championship that was played amid debate over playing surfaces, host cities and the length of a drug suspension, perhaps a new debate will emerge over who should end the season as No. 1.
Rafael Nadal is guaranteed the spot, but he lost to Novak Djokovic in the finale of the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday, 6-3, 6-4. It was Djokovic’s 22nd straight victory since a loss to Nadal in the United States Open final in September.
“One could argue that Novak should be No. 1, especially since his run since the U.S. Open has been remarkable,” said Miles Maclagan, a former coach of Andy Murray. “But I think these guys are measured now in Grand Slams, and Rafa has the edge. I think that’s pretty tough to argue against in the end.”
Nadal won two majors in 2013 to Djokovic’s one.
Still, Djokovic beat Nadal for the second straight time following a win by the identical score in Beijing last month. His earnings this week pushed him past the $10 million mark for the year.
Djokovic also edged closer to evening his overall record against Nadal, pulling to 17-22.
Nadal failed in his bid to become the second man, after Andre Agassi, to win all four majors, the Olympic singles gold, the Davis Cup and these year-end championships. Only the last is missing from his résumé.
“The level of tennis was similar,” Nadal said. “The level of the serve was not similar. I didn’t serve well, and he did.”
Nadal did not hit an ace and struck four double faults.
Nadal gave his supporters hope of reversing a second-set deficit when he saved one match point with a strong backhand down the line and another in the ensuing game after chasing a short ball.
But when a shot sailed wide on a third match point, Djokovic celebrated his third title at this elite eight-man event.
November could yet get better for Djokovic; he is expected to lead Serbia against the Czech Republic in the final of the Davis Cup this weekend in Belgrade. He said after Monday’s match that he was exhausted but would do his best to recover and be ready for it.
Nadal’s left knee kept him off the tour for about seven months beginning last summer, and he appeared to flex the knee in the second set.
He did not dwell on the issue as he addressed reporters in English but said he would check the state of his knee after a holiday and an exhibition tour.
The match did not have the drama of the players’ past tussles: Who could forget their nearly six-hour duelin the 2012 Australian Open final?
That encounter featured an average game time of roughly six and a half minutes. Monday’s was about five.
Djokovic won the first three games of the first set and held a break point for 4-0 but erred. Nadal held and won the ensuing three games for 3-3.
Facing a break point at 3-4, Nadal came forward and was presented with a comfortable backhand volley.
He sent it crosscourt; against most foes, it would have been enough to win the point.
But Djokovic showed all of his defensive qualities by not only getting to the ball but also issuing an effective lob. Nadal backtracked, and Djokovic won an exchange at the net seconds later to claim the point.
He roared his approval and was mostly untroubled thereafter.
A break in the third game of the second set further sent Djokovic on his way. He did not face a break point in the second.
“We push each other to the limit,” Djokovic said. “We make each other better players. We make each other work harder on our games, especially when we play against each other.” He also said he believed Nadal deserved the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Given the form of the two men, it would not be a surprise to see them in more big finals in 2014. Two years ago, they met in six finals, including two in Grand Slam events.
“I think it’s nice we have two guys who are really pushing themselves to the limit,” Maclagan said. “And they conduct themselves impeccably.”
The outcome was better for Nadal’s countrymen Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero in the doubles final.
They upset the three-time champions Bob and Mike Bryan, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 10-7, with Verdasco striking the shot of the match by ripping a 117-mile-per-hour forehand against the American twins.
“I don’t know exactly the miles I’ve been making during my whole career,” said Verdasco, who extended Murray, the eventual champion, to five sets at Wimbledon in July, “but I’m pretty sure that is one of the fastest. I hit it perfect.”
And perfect also just about describes Djokovic’s results since the United States Open.
