Abhiroop Basu

Wimbledon Men’s Final 2011 [DJOKOVIC WINS]

Live blogging the 2011 Wimbledon Men’s Final (refresh the page for updates). Most recent updates at the top. Wherever I have put scores, it usually goes via points in games, sets, and then the match with Djokovic (D) first and Nadal (N) second. For example (15-40, 3-1, 2-0) - means 15 pts for D and 40 pts for N in the fifth game of the third set.

All times are in SST. 

I’m sure I have made some mistakes, so please feel free to correct me!

DJOKOVIC WINS WIMBLEDON 2011

(6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3)

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11:38pm: D breaks, he just needs to hold the next game to win the Championship! (5-3)

11:37pm: Brilliant defence from D, but N has made 3 unforced errors in his own service game. 3 break points for D (40-0).

11:35pm: N double-faults. First point to D (15-0)

11:33pm: Clean game from D. He really needed this (4-3)

11:32pm: Good start to the 7th game by D (15-0)

122 kph serve by N!

11:30pm: N holds serve (3-3)

11:29pm: Nadal had the full court and played it perfectly (15-40)

11:24pm: Both players are completely even (30-30)

D must re-establish his earlier dominance

11:21pm: N holds serve (2-2)

11.16pm: Ball skims of the net and D is almost in tears. N breaks back (2-1)

11:15pm: A couple of poor shots and N has a break point (30-40)

11:14pm: Ditto for N (30-15)

11:14pm: Crestfallen look from D as his return smacks into the net (15-15)

D just needs to serve out the set to win the match. Easier said than done against N.

11:13pm: Long rally right of the base line gives D the game (2-0)

11:12pm: Great play from the net, D plays the drop volley and now has 2 break points now (40-15)

11:11pm: Poor return from D (30-15)

11:08pm: Close call, challenged by N, but it was out (1-0)

11:06pm Long rally’s are taking their toll (deuce)

11:06pm: Another break point from N (30-40)

11:04pm: Great shot from N - just whizzes a few mm over the net (15-30)

11:03pm: Suddenly N can do no wrong (15-15)

11:02pm: D’s turn to hold serve - doesn’t want to give N another break (15-0)

11:00pm: N takes the set (1-2)

10.55pm: D fights back with a soft return.

10.54pm: Another break point for N. Almost a set point now.

10.50pm: Pure aggression from N takes the fifth game without dropping a point. D seems to have lost his invincibility (1-4)

10.47pm: D makes N run all over the court for that point, N tries a “Federer” between his legs and fails (1-3)

10.46pm: Good serve from D - he’s got to be careful N doesn’t run away with the third set (30-15)

10.45pm: Let, fault, poor rally, D seems to have lost the spring in his step (0-15)

10.43pm: Game N! Tides are turning? (0-3) 

“Ladies and gentlemen please do not make any official calls”

10.41pm: Suddenly, N looks like he is in control (0-15)

10.40pm: N finally breaks D (0-2)

10.39pm: N’s first break point (30-40)

10.38pm: Just when D needed it a perfect serve (30-30) - D is exuding confidence

10.38pm: Out, but not by much (15-30)

10.37pm: First time N has gotten to 0-30 on D’s serve

10.35pm: N finally takes the lead (0-1, 2-0)

10.34pm: Fault and a poor second serve from N (15-40)

10.33pm: Much better performance from N (0-40)

10.30pm: Clinical performance from D to take the second set (5-1, 2-0).

22 Winners and only 1 unforced errors by D against the present world number one.

10.26pm: Slip from N and D looks set to take the second set (5-1)

10.26pm: Spectacular shots on that point - drop shot from D, reverse smash from N, but D manages to take the point (40-30)

10.25pm: N seems to be breaking down against D - especially off of rallies from the baseline (30-30)

10.24pm: Brilliant serve from N (15-30)

10.23pm: N starts off the sixth game strongly (15-0)

Players have asked for umbrellas. Wish I had someone to carry an umbrella over my head in Singapore :(

10.21pm: Game to D (4-1)

10.21pm: Ace from D - most of the points so far have been won on the first point (40-15)

10.18pm: N finally manages to take a game of D in the second set (3-1)

D in straights sets? I don’t think so, Nadal has far more endurance (IMHO)

10.13pm: D takes the third game (3-0)

10.12pm: Phenomenal play from D - slugfest from both players (40-15, 2-0)

10.11pm: D’s anticipation is incredible, but N puts one over him.

10.09pm: An ace to start the next game (15-0, 2-0)

4 games in a row for D.

10.08pm: Fabulous anticipation from D. Takes the game (2-0)

10.07pm: R loses another baseline rally - another break point for D.

Momentum is on Djokovic’s side - looks close to breaking.

Rafa’s first serve is a powerhouse, but once the rally starts D is the better player (statistically).

10.03pm: D takes the set with another ace (1-0, 1-0)

10.03pm: Poor smash for Nadal (40-30)

D bounced the ball 17 times in the last serve - is he getting nervous?

D has won the last SEVEN sets against Nadal.

9.57pm: D wins the set with two poor first serves from N in the last game (1-0 (6-4)

9.48pm: This time D is successful with the drop shot at the net.

9.47pm: Djokovic tries a drop shot and fails. Nadal takes the game (4-4)

9.43pm: Djokivic serves an ace to take the game (3-4)

9.43pm: Spirited defence from Nadal from the baseline, but Djokovic takes the point (40-15, 3-3)

9.42pm: This time Djokovic is beaten at the net by a brilliant shot from Nadal - “You’re a genius Rafa, a genius”

9.40pm: Djokovic seems far more in control of his serve (30-0)

9.39pm: ACED! Nadal ties the set (3-3)

9.37pm: Nadal challenges the call and he’s wrong on this occasion, the ball is out (30-30, 3-2) - Nadal has two challenges remaining in this set.

9.36pm: It’s Djokovic’s turn at the net and he takes the point (15-15, 3-2)

9.34pm: Brilliant return from Nadal to take him 15-0 in the 6th set.

Can he provide a comparable result today on his first Wimbledon final?

Djokovic has beaten Nadal four times this year. Djokovic has also been beaten only once in all his matches this year.

9.33pm: Good return from Djokovic to hold serve (3-2)

9.31pm: Both players seem settled at 2-2

9.27pm: Djokovic holds serve (2-1)

9.27pm: Alan Rickman with his “3D glasses”

9.26pm: Strong rally taking Djokovic within a point of holding serve 

9.25pm: Fantastic return from Nadal

9.24pm: Djokovic bounces the ball about a dozen times…nothing’s changed

Start: Nervy start with Djokovic holding.