"[Facing Nadal is] always the biggest challenge that you can have in our sport now," Djokovic said. "He's the ultimate competitor out there. He's fighting for every ball and he's playing probably the best tennis that he ever played on hard courts."
When Novak and Rafa meet for the third time in the last four Flushing Meadows finals, expect rushes of corner-to-corner rallies as streaks collide. Nadal carries the confidence that comes from posting a 21-0 hard court record in 2013, a year in which he's reached the final in 12 of his 13 tournaments. Djokovic is empowered playing on his best surface. He's won 39 of his last 40 major matches staged on hard courts and is contesting his fourth consecutive U.S. Open final.
Here are five key factors to consider:
Fast Start
The winner of the opening set has won 10 of their last 11 matches—the exception was Djokovic's spirited 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 triumph in the 2012 Australian Open final—and both have been tremendous front-runners. This season, Nadal is 50-1 when winning the opening set and Djokovic is 43-2.
First Serve
Nadal is serving 67 percent and has surrendered serve just once in the entire tournament, holding 73 straight times before Richard Gasquet managed a break in his straight-sets semifinal loss. He must serve accurately to set up his first strike because Djokovic is one of the best returners in the world, earning a tournament-best 38 breaks—including four in his semifinal win over Stan Wawrinka, who did not face a break point in sweeping defending champion Andy Murray. Djokovic has broken serve seven or more times in four of his six tournament wins; Nadal has only faced 12 break points.
Court Positioning
Djokovic can shorten up his backswings, he's more comfortable taking the ball on the rise, and he's attacked net more frequently: The Serb has gone to net 184 times compared to 133 net trips for Nadal. However, Nadal is the crisper volleyer. When Rafa comes to net, he closes the curtain: He's won 83 percent of his net approaches and has used both his drop shot and backhand slice effectively to exploit his growing enthusiasm for the front court.
Changing Direction
Novak's ability to strike his sturdiest shot—the two-handed backhand—into all areas of the court helped him combat Rafa's hellacious lefty topspin forehand cross-court during his six-match winning streak. Both men have potent down-the-line drives that could be key components of this match. Djokovic's backhand can exploit Nadal's habit of drifting to his right to hit his forehand from the deuce side; Nadal has the ability to occasionally strike down the line to abruptly alter his preferred cross-court patterns. Djokovic has hit more winners with his forehand (77) than his backhand (32) at the Open and has sometimes opted to hit his one-handed slice backhand rather than his two-hander up the line, but he will need that hit the tougher shot against Nadal.
Adaptability
Considering that five of Djokovic's six major titles have come on hard courts, while Nadal has won just two of his 12 Grand Slam titles on the surface, and you must give Novak the edge as the game's best hard-court player. Because Djokovic is the flatter hitter, he should navigate the sometimes swirling winds of Ashe Stadium better (Monday's forecast calls for a partly-cloudy conditions, winds at 5-10 M.P.H. and a high of 73 degrees). But Nadal's topspin shots can create such bewildering spin that getting a clean strike on the gyrating ball diving into your hip amid a mischievous breeze can be a tricky proposition.
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The athletic pedigree ranges from the Spanish soccer pitch to the Serbian ski slopes, but both men are exceptional movers and possess the body control of contortionists, which means the margins are minuscule. Had Rafa cleared the tape with his backhand down the line leading 4-2 in the fifth set of the 2012 Australian Open final, he probably would have won the title. If Novak been more sure-footed near net, he may well have ended Rafa's Roland Garros reign in June.
