Novak Djokovic v Stefanos Tsitsipas: French Open final – live! – The Guardian

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 3-2 Tsitsipas* I’ll keep saying this because it’s remains the case: if Tsitsipas can keep holding serve, his genius shot-making can still save him. But at 30-0, Djokovic flips a forehand winner cross-court and his effort to get it bespeaks a man who’s nearly beaten. A drop into the net follows, then a big serve dredged from the tips of the toes and bottom of the soul, an overhead hit at Djokovic still giving him a chance … but he nets. Another big serve confirms the hold, and he remains a live dog.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 3-1 Tsitsipas Tsitsipas said before the match that he’d leave his body on the court, and he’ll have to. Thing is, he’s missing balls he was hitting earlier on and remedying that, when you can feel your lifelong dream slipping away in your exhaustion, is hard even for me to process, never mind the bloke who needs to find the most precise tennis he’s ever played. Djokovic consolidates to love.

‘Djokovic can’t be human,” emails Gregory Phillips. “I know he has seemed fresh as a daisy after epic semi-finals in the past, but in these first two sets it looked like fatigue might be finally be something that actually affected him. But no, here he is, fifth set, just doing what he does.”

It’s astonishing isn’t it. he can play a lot better than this, but his ability to his deep, deeper than the earth’s core, when he really needs to, looks set to win him this match.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 2-1 Tsitsipas* A long shadow now encroaches on the court, down almost half of one side – it’s annoying to see on a screen so is presumably annoying to see when exhausted and trying to hit a tennis ball. Anyhow, at 15-all Tsitsipas hits a drop – I’m not sure many have worked for him today, but this is a goodun – except Djokovic screeches after it and though Tsitsipas reaches his riposte, he can’t force it around the net post. Still, a shadow-aided service winner makes 30-all, then another drop is too good – again, Djokovic gets there but this time he can only get the angle to flick it wide. OK, hang on folks: a poor second serve allows Djokovic to punish a forehand winner down the line and this is the match – if Tistsipas is broken he’s done for, so Djokovic tantalises him with the chance to his a backhand winner down the line and on the run … so he does! The stones to take that on! It tickled the whitewash too, but Djokovic wins the next two points for advantage! Here we go … and oh dear. Djokovic spirits a forehand deep, right by the line, and a tired, nondescript backhand from Tsitsipas floats long! He’s in all sorts now, but can take some comfort that he’s playing a bit better than before, so you never know (er, you sort of do … but maybe you don’t).

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 1-1 Tsitsipas At 30-0 this looks like easy hold for Djokovic, but that shouldn’t trouble Tsitsipas too much. I mean it should, but at this point he just needs to sort his own serve games out and assume his forehand will earn him a chance in a bit. And anyway, an error from Djokovic then a lob that drops long means it’s 40-30 … but Tsitsipas can’t control his return. Still, this is very tight now, and this is everything that sport is about.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 0-1 Tsitsipas* It’d be so great, and a fitting end to a great championships – in both competitions – if both men could find their level here. But I’m afraid to say that I fear Tsitsipas has gone, and a forehand winner from Djokovic makes 0-30. The match is here, people … and Tsitsipas finds a booming ace down the middle! “TSIT-SI-PAS! TSIT-SI-PAS!” bellow the crowd, and yer man absolutely lamps consecutive forehands down the line for 30-all. But arghhh, ich, and eesh – an absentminded backhand hands Djokovic break point – but wow, ping and zip – a serve out wide then a wrongfooting forehand into the same corner make deuce! This is boiling and broiling now, but Tsitsipas can’t convert his first game point; no matter. He hammers a forehand that earns him another go and he already looks better than before – a clever second serve down the middle, Djokovic spoons his return, and this is intense. I’ve no clue how these lads do it, no clue whatsoever; I can hardly type, never mind run, hit and think.

I’ve not a clue what Tsitsipas has left. If it’s not more than we’ve seen in the last set, he’s done for, but if he can focus on serving well he’s got a chance. Thing is, Djokovic is on a roll and isn’t simply feeding the forehand anymore.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 Tsitsipas* Djokovic is right on the baseline now, and looks very strong. He makes 15-0 with a venomous backhand, then a service winner takes him two points away. Next, a backhand goes long, but an ace raises two set points … the first disappearing when a forehand is also long … but a backhand winner follows, and we’ve got ourselves a decider!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 5-2 Tsitsipas* This isn’t vintage Djokovic, but it also is because he’s finding a way. I wonder if it took him the first two sets to run the semi out of his legs, because the way he moves onto a forehand winner for 15-all is far better than anything he managed in the early stages. But Tsitsipas then wins three straight points, the final one with an ace, so Djokovic will have to serve for it.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 5-1 Tsitsipas At 30-0, Tsitsipas comes in, so Djokovic clouts a backhand pass cross-court then quickly closes out. Tsitsipas looks bushed, but he’ll want to hold here so he serves first in the decider.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 4-1 Tsitsipas* More like it from Tsitsipas, who breaks Djokovic’s run of five straight games, holding to love. He’s on the board in set four, and the ace that sealed the deal will give him some heart – he served really well in the first two sets, but fell away badly thereafter.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 4-0 Tsitsipas When you think about the big three – the big four even – what we sometimes forget in rhapsodising their strokeplay is their mentality. Djokovic looked tentative all the way through this match, but then circumstance challenged him to find something and now look. I wonder if Tsitsipas will tank this set now – well, not tank, but use it to hit his way back into form, because the way he’s playing now, he’s got no chance of saving himself unbearable, scalding pain. Djokovic holds to love.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 3-0 Tsitsipas* Djokovic is hot, and two forehand winners give him 0-30; he is one of the most obscene competitors we’ve ever seen, in any sport. But an ace and a backhand error then make it 30-all, and we end up at deuce; Tsitsipas wasting his first advantage when Djokovic finds an excellent length, then having his second taken from him by a forehand winner. Tsitsipas is playing a little better now, but he still wipes a backhand wide, only for Djokovic to fling one long. This is developing into an absolutely sensational match, but we could do with both men hitting their peaks concurrently … but in the meantime, a drop from Djokovic snatches the double break! We’ve a way to go, but we’re going to have ourselves a decider!

“Tsitsipas probably trying to keep points short due to his physical condition,” tweets @anandkumarn. In going for outright winners, he’s ending up with more unforced errors.”

I know what you mean, but I’m not sure – he generally plays like this, he’s just lost his rhythm and he’s playing Novak Djokovic.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 2-0 Tsitsipas Djokovic hooks a forehand long for 0-15 but Tsitsipas looks bedraggled no, and the consolidation is secured to 15. Tsitsipas isn’t playing well now, and if he doesn’t improve he’s done for.

“Tsitsipas must genuinely think he’s in danger of losing this now,” says @Mysteron_Voice. “Notwithstanding he lost the last set, how often do you see a player who is ahead take a medical time out?”

I don’t know, but maybe he was in pain? And I’m sure he knows he might lose – he’s playing Novak Djokovic in a major final – but he must be wondering as to the whereabouts of his game.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 1-0 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas dashes to the net to claim the first point of set four only to shove his forehand long – he’s not hitting it as well as earlier, and when Djokovic steps in on his serve, a shoulder-high winner follows. Tsitsipas gets back to 15-30, but another loose forehand and he’s facing two break points; when this happened in set one, he found three straight aces, but this time a tame backhand winner hands Djokovic the advantage. This is slipping away now, and Djokovic has somehow willed himself into groove.

After a big of twisting and pressing, Tsitsipas is good to go. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Tsitsipas will be disappointed with how he was broken in that set, but if he takes a moment will know that you don’t turn up, rinse Djokovic in three to win your first major, then go and get steaming with your mates. He nips off for a break, then gets the trainer on to have a butcher’s at his back.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 6-3 Tsitsipas Ooh yeah! The game kicks off with a sapping, sensational rally, ended by Djokovic with a backhand drop on the run, and a whipped forehand winner puts him two points away. Tistsipas, though, finds a gorgeous forehand of his own, hooked from the centre to the sideline, and then Djokovic sends down a double! Eighteen majors and the nerves are still jangling, but what a forehand he finds when sent to the corner, Tsitsipas dropping fractionally long with a riposte that’s almost as good. A forehand winner follows, and the comeback is on!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 5-3 Tsitsipas* Tell you what, I can’t remember the last time I saw Djokovic play this badly in the final of a slam – if Tsitsipas loses this he’ll be poorly for quite some time. And he nets a volley for 0-15 then finds himself passed for 0-30, but Tsitsipas quickly levels the game then when Djokovic catches up with a drop, just, they exchange gets before Djokovic raps one at him and he glances home a winning volley then closes out. Djokovic will have to serve for it…

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 5-2 Tsitsipas Djokovic goes long with a forehand and chastises the cosmos for its gross injustices; the crowd boo. I’ve no idea how a grown adult can go through with such activity – “use your words,” as we used to say to my nipper – but Tsitsipas is back into this now and quickly makes 15-30. Djokovic, though, puts a forehand into the corner then, despite a tame second serve, raises game point with a luscious drop then wallops a forehand to that same forehand corner.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 4-2 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas could do with a comfy hold here, but at 15-0 he sends down his second double of the match and is soon serving at 15-30. But he finds a sizeable first serve, then another – mentally, he is right there – and a high kicker out to the backhand gets him back settled.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 4-1 Tsitsipas Last time Djokovic broke, Tsitsipas retorted immediately, but yerman is fighting his way into stride … though as I type that, Tsitsipas dematerialises a forehand winner that shrieks cross-court for 30-15. Djokovic, though, closes out easily enough.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 3-1 Tsitsipas* At 15-all, Djokovic has a go at a second serve, but Tsitsipas simply disburses successive monstrous forehands; that shot is dominating the match and it’s hard to see how that changes … er, perhaps like that! At 40-15, Djokovic smacks a backhand winner down the line, then hangs in until Tsitsipas nets a forehand; deuce. And here we go! Another forehand error hands Djokovic break point … but check out the stones on that! Tsitsipas unloads the suitcase on a succession of forehands, then when Djokovic plays to the back, a sliced drop opens the court for the winer. This game might just be crucial, and a dazzling return from Djokovic gets him another shot at winning at … but a big serve, a big forehand, two gigantic overheads – the ball was in the air for a generation, twice – and we’re back at deuce. Tsitsipas, though, goes wide with a forehand … so imposes a big serve and clean-up backhand. He’s been sensational under pressure so far, but another forehand error means he’s under it again … and it’s Djokovic who crumbles, missing a simple half-court forehand after dictating the rally and forcing Tsitsipas to defend desperately (and brilliantly). This is the longest game of the match now, and the next opportunity to nick it falls to Tsitsipas … who nets a backhand. This feels a lot like the match and both players are attacking the moment like it cussed their mum, a backhand error from Tistsipas handing Djokovic a fifth break point, and when the serve out wide opens the court, he can only stick his backhand wide! We got ourselves a ball-game!

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 2-1 Tsitsipas Again, Tsitsipas thinks Djokovic has gone long, circling where he thinks the mark is; again, the umpire thinks to the contrary and Djokovic shakes his head disapprovingly. He loves rules, after all. Anyhow, a terrific wrong-footing forehand gives Tsitsipas 30-all, and if he can find a return here he’s bang in business. A return to a second serve! But this time his forehand lets him down and a fine one from Djokovic – we’ve not seen many – gets them sat down again.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 1-1 Tsitsipas* A forehand winner followed by a ninth ace gives Tsitsipas 30-0, but then Djokovic finds a glorious forehand return on the stretch for 40-30. We’ve not seen much of that today, and a serve out wide followed by a clean-up forehand extinguish hope as soon as it was kindled.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 1-0 Tsitsipas For Tsitsipas to play like this in his first major final is very impressive; he’s not been at his best, but he’s been solid, and his solid – embroidered with the occasional ripper – is brilliant. Djokovic holds to 15.

“Looks like Djokovic is going to need one of his legendary bathroom breaks at the end of this set, to recalibrate himself,” tweets @Mysteron_Voice.

You can’t underestimate the healing powers of a good slash.

Tsitsipas is so relaxed out there now, playing his game. Djokovic, on the other hand, looks exhausted and out of ideas – but we know what he can do, so this isn’t over.

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-6 Tsitsipas* Here we go. Djokovic, who looks pretty forlorn out there, lands a return on the line; Tsitsipas circles a mark, the umpire has a look, and says it’s in; 0-15. But three Djokovician errors follow, then an ace down the middle, and oh my absolute days! We’ve been waiting for about three decades, but are the big three about to be usurped?

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-5 Tsitsipas Tsitsipas reads a second serve and absolutely rips it down the line for 15-all; tellingly, Djokovic doesn’t chase it even though he had a chance of getting there, and when he tries a drop next point, Tsitsipas runs it down and caresses a glorious flick into the empty bit of the court. AND HAVE A LOOK! An error from Djokovic gives 15-40 – it quickly becomes 30-40 – and what a point this is coming up. But it’s a squib, Tsitsipas’ forehand clipping the net and leaping wide; deuce. No matter. He wrests control of the rally with a backhand, then unleashes a wrong-footing winner, into Djokovic’s backhand corner as he scurries away from it to the centre. Djokovic then nets a forehand, and this set is nearly over!

Djokovic (6)6-7 2-4 Tsitsipas* The rallies have been much shorter the last few games, but we have a longun to start here, again dominated by Tsitsipas’ forehand, and Djokovic flails with a desperate drop that hits the net. Earlier, we were discussing how he tends not to target a particular aspect of his opponent’s game in order to keep them guessing, but it might be time to examine how Tsitsipas’ backhand stands up under pressure because at the moment the match is going as well as he can possibly have dreamed. He holds to love.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 2-3 Tsitsipas Djokovic came from 2-0 down against Musetti, but this is a very different affair. Tsitsipas is in great shape, has great shots and, most of all, he’s ready: his game is there, his body is there, his mind is there. Djokovic is, though, holding comfortably now; can he force a break-back opportunity?

Djokovic (6)6-7 1-3 Tsitsipas* I’m not sure how he does it, but Djokovic always manages to look poor on the court – I mean, just look at this rig. No doubt as a consequence, Tsitsipas’ forehand is dominating the match at the moment, and he holds to 15.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 1-2 Tsitsipas Tsitsipas needs to make this count because Djokovic isn’t currently at it. He does, though, hold to 15, which gets him on the board in set two.

Djokovic (6)6-7 0-2 Tsitsipas* Tsitsipas will know these are the moments of his life. He’ll never have experienced anything like this but he’ll have visualised it every day for years and years. I’ve no idea how you cope with this kind of thing but oh my god, at 0-15 Tsitsipas hangs in the rally, Djokovic botching an overhead and allowing him to leap into a backhand retort. Even then, though, Djokovic should do more with his forehand, not hard enough or deep enough into the forehand corner, but even so, though, Tsitsipas’ response is superb and too good, walloped at the laces; he’s enjoying this, but will need to get by deuce if he’s to consolidate … and does at the first time of asking, a loopy forehand onto the line sealing the deal. This is extremely intense now.

*Djokovic (6)6-7 0-1 Tsitsipas It really did look like Djokovic was doing his usual in that set, finding his best tennis for its key moment. But when serving for it he dropped to 15 and, as we discussed, the man with the bigger shots took the breaker … before racing to 0-40! Djokovic saves the first break point … but then goes long with a forehand on the second! Tsitsipas is in tsexcelsis!

That was such a good breaker, fluctuations, winners and, if we’re being real, the better outcome for the match we’re hoping to see. Once Medvedev lost the opener in Australia he was finished, but here, Djokovic is in a match.

Djokovic (6)6-7 Tsitsipas This is bigger than Sam Allardyce is this, this is, is this – if Djokovic wins it, it’s hard to see a way back but if Tsitsipas wins it it who knows – and he responds brilliantly to a brilliant Djokovic return to earn his second set point at 6-7 – and he takes it! The return goes in, a big forehand follows, and Djokovic can only thrash wide!