Mana Games

[LetsGoBro]

Earlier in my first QF match at RG, I defeated first time quarterfinalist Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to move through to the SF.

In the SF, I was set to meet No.4 Djokovic which unexpectedly turned into a thriller match. I started strong, serving out an opening deuce game while also breaking in the second game and holding again to establish a 3-0* lead in the first set, before the Serb leveled back to *3-3 back on serve. Serves were unbreakable and we headed to a tiebreak, and despite me holding a 6-3** lead in the tiebreak, I eventually edged the exciting tiebreak 7-6(9-7). I broke Djokovic again in the fifth game of the 2nd set and broke him again in the 8th game to clinch the 2nd set 6-3. From there on in, Djokovic played like an absolute demon and broke me twice in total in the 3rd set to clinch it 6-3. He kept up his unbelievable ballstriking and again also broke me twice and trashed the 4th set 6-2 to send this match to a deciding fifth set. Unfortunately for him, his first serve faded in the opening game of the 5th set and I broke for *1-0. I cemented the break until 5-3*, and eventually I broke him again to win the 5th set 6-3. Final score: 7-6(7), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3. We both served really well, particularly when we both got our first serves in.

I'm through to my first final at Roland Garros, and I am set to face "You-Know-Who", who ironically defeated Federer in four sets 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in his semifinal. Overall, Rafa has been as solid as a rock, only dropping a total of two sets on route to the final (dropping one in his 2R match and his SF match against Federer). Compared to me, I've dropped about seven sets including five set victories over Tipsarevic in the 1R, and Bellucci in the 4R respectively.

I'm really looking forward to this final and for sure it will be fun, and I'll try what I can to see if I can beat Nadal for the first time on clay. We've met once this year already on clay; at the Monte Carlo final, where I lost to Rafa 6-7(6), 7-5, 1-6. It will be an interesting RG final for sure.